Team Anna supporters to target Congress-NCP in BMC polls

Even as Team Anna prepares to go ballistic against members of the ruling UPA in the upcoming assembly poll campaign in various states, the social crusader’s supporters from the city have decided to target the Congress and the NCP in the BMC polls.

Mayank Gandhi of Indian Against Corruption (IAC), said, “As of now, we are all focussed on Anna Hazare’s protest beginning December 27 in the city. As soon as we are done with ‘jail bharo’ agitation, we will chalk out a strategised campaign against the UPA parties contesting polls.” Other activists associated with Jan Lokpal agitation said wards headed by both parties will be concentrated upon.

Stating that the agitators will spare clean candidates who have shown a fair performance, Satish Prabhu, associated with social activist Medha Patkar,  said: “Despite the many protests a few months ago, the Lokpal bill introduced in the Parliament was a big disappointment. So, we will concentrate in pockets where the Congress-NCP alliance enjoys backing.”

Even as the plans are yet to start materialising, a section of Mumbaikars has come up in support of the idea. “The Congress has already earned a bad name over the Jan Lokpal issue. I won’t vote for the party,” said Keyur Seta, a Dadar resident.

Emboldened by the results of the recent civic polls across the state, the Congress is oozing confidence and believes the BMC polls won’t be a different story. More than all the ‘negative’ campaigning over national-level issues it is local problems and the representative’s performance at grass root-level that matters more in civic polls, it said. “Anna’s version of the bill was not favoured by other parties, like the Shiv Sena, so will his followers campaign against them too?” asked Congress spokesperson Kishor Joshi.