NCP in talks with Congress for civic polls in Maharashtra

However, the two parties have not initiated discussion for the MCGM elections

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday said that negotiations for an alliance are underway with the Congress party for the upcoming Municipal Council (MC) elections in Maharashtra. However, the two parties have not initiated discussion for an alliance for the crucial Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) elections that are scheduled for February 2017.

Sunil Tatkare, state NCP chief, said that they had a meeting of its leaders who are in-charge of various districts on Wednesday. “We are in talks with like-minded parties including Congress for the local body elections in the state. A clear picture will emerge after talks between the district unit leaders of Congress and NCP conclude before the last date of withdrawal of nominations,” Tatkare said.

According to Tatkare, though the negations are going on, the NCP candidates will go ahead and file their nomination papers for the first phase of Municipal Council elections. “If our alliance materialises, our candidates will withdraw their nomination papers from some seats,” he said.

Meanwhile, both the parties are also negotiating for seat sharing for the six Legislative Council seats. Tatkare added that they are awaiting response from Congress party regarding an alliance for the Legislative Council elections. The six seats are — Jalgaon, Nanded, Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Pune and Bhandara-Gondia.

In the negotiation, NCP has sought to retain Yavatmal, Pune, Bhandara-Gondia and Sangli-Satara. “Congress should contest Nanded (seat) where it has a sitting MLC. Both the parties have discussed the seat adjustments for the Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal and Bhandara-Gondia seats,” he said.

Tatkare added that they also reviewed the current political situation in the state and organisational preparedness in today’s meeting.