Congress, NCP to contest upcoming polls together against BJP
In a bid to defeat the BJP-led NDA government in Maharashtra, estranged allies - the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday announced that they will jointly contest the upcoming polls in the state. The decision was jointly made after a meeting between Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and his NCP counterpart Sunil Tatkare at Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's residence.
We will fight all upcoming polls together against BJP government
Chavan said, "We have decided to fight all upcoming polls together to defeat the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government. There will be a meet to deliberate on the seat-sharing strategy." Instead of announcing a formal alliance, Tatkare said, "Both parties have created an atmosphere that is conducive to an alliance. Our first focus is the bypolls to be held for the Bhandara-Gondia and Palghar seats."
Bypolls date yet to be announced by EC
The schedule for the bypolls is yet to be announced by the Election Commission. The bypoll to the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat in East Maharashtra was necessitated, following the resignation of its BJP MP Nana Patole, who returned to the Congress. Further, the Palghar Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of its BJP MP, Chintaman Wanaga, last month.
What did NCP chief Sharad Pawar say?
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said that though weakened, the Congress was the only alternative to the BJP. "Even though the Congress is considerably weakened over the years, Rahul Gandhi has shown willingness to learn and engage with the people. If the people support him, the Congress can be revived and the fact is that a strong opposition is required to strengthen democracy," he added.
