With eye on civic polls, NCP demands 12 seats in Mumbai

Mumbai: The Mumbai Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has demanded a dozen seats in the city and suburbs, the logic being extension of base in the city not so much for the Assembly elections as the civic body elections in 2022. The demand was put forth at a meeting held with leaders of various districts including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Navi Mumbai Thursday at NCP Bhavan by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. However, the demand may create a rift between the Congress and NCP in the coming days.

Mumbai NCP president Sachin Ahir told reporters at NCP Bhavan that the party would get at least two Assembly seats in every district in Mumbai. The issue had been discussed with senior party leaders in the meeting. The party would take up the issue with its alliance partner, Congress.

A senior NCP leader, requesting anonymity, said that the city NCP unit had demanded 12 seats to contest the elections. These were the same seats that had been contested by the Congress and lost twice in the Assembly elections. But the party did not have any candidates for these seats. The leader said that Mr Pawar’s response was that seats were not an issue but candidates having the capacity to win were. Mr Pawar also directed senior leaders and newly elected MPs to connect with the people ahead of the Assembly elections.