NCP to introspect and strategise at meet today

Mumbai: Amidst talks of political instability in Maharashtra, senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will meet on Thursday to take stock of the situation and strategise. Party chief Sharad Pawar will chair the meeting. Mr Pawar had made clear his unwillingness to support the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the state government and in Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) elections.

The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature will start on March 6 under the shadow of tension between ruling partners BJP and Shiv Sena. The mayoral election of BMC is scheduled for March 8. Political observers believe that if Sena ditches BJP in the BMC, it will have serious repercussions on the stability of the state government also.

Opposition parties Congress and NCP are keenly watching every development between the ruling parties. Both parties are seeing an opportunity to destabilise the government if Sena continues with its ‘Ekla Chalo Re’ mood. The coming budget session could give them an opportunity to do so. The NCP’s leaders will discuss their strategy in this backdrop.

Meeting will also have a discussion about possible alliance with Congress in various zilla parishads. As per the party’s calculations, both could win 15 out of 25 ZPs if they join hands. But, there is local infighting in few places within NCP and Congress, which has become a hurdle in their coming together. Mr Pawar will try to solve these issues to win back old strongholds.