With Lok Sabha elections concluded in Maharashtra, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar has already begun preparations for the state Assembly elections. Sharad Pawar has also convened a meeting of party leaders and office bearers in Mumbai on May 4.
According to Hindustan Times, as the first step, the party chief will hold a meeting of his MLAs, MPs and district presidents at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. Lok Sabha election candidates, too, have been asked to be present. Party leaders told the leading daily, “Pawar wants to assess the party’s performance in the general elections and the major issues in the state, especially the drought. Senior leaders will also deliberate on the strategy to be adopted to corner the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in the state.”
Pawar has also started a tour of drought-affected areas the day after the Lok Sabha elections. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told Hindustan Times, “Drought situation has become severe. The meeting is to discuss it and decide how to help affected people.”
Looking at NCP’s poor performance in the 2014 elections, both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are crucial for the party. A party insider told the Asian Age, “We have received reports that the party has done remarkably well in the recently held LS polls in the state. We are hopeful that our seats will increase in the Lok Sabha. On this backdrop, we do not want to lose the momentum. Hence, we have decided to concentrate on the Vidhan Sabha polls.”
