NCP, Congress lock horns over Pune LS seat

Mumbai: The Pune Lok Sabha has become the bone of contention in the alliance discussions between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, with both parties staking claims to the seat. While the Congress had contested the seat as per the seat-sharing formula between the two parties from 2004 to 2014, the NCP, too, has refused to let go of the seat.

At a recent public meeting in Pune, NCP leader Ajit Pawar clearly said that his party was willing to contest the Pune city Lok Sabha seat and would not back down its claim. “We have proved our numbers in the city. We have more councillors than the Congress. Also, our organisational base is strong enough. We will contest this seat and definitely win said,” said Mr Pawar.

In both 2004 and 2009, Congress senior leader Suresh Kalmadi had contested this seat. In 2014, the grand old party changed its candidate but lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pune city Congress chief Ramesh Bagwe said, “Seat-sharing talks are yet to be started. So, seniors will take the appropriate decision. Our workers are also aggressively demanding to contest this seat.”

Discussions for an alliance between the Congress and NCP are expected to start in the next few days. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has given green signal to state leaders for discussions.