)
In the run up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls slated for October, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is faced with two dilemmas. One is how to tackle the exit of its members and second to get rid of the party's scam-tainted image.
NCP insiders admit that leaders quitting the party is a matter of concern. So far more than 30 prominent leaders have either crossed over or resigned from the primary membership of NCP.
NCP's former minister Babanrao Pachpute, who had led the party in Maharashtra, has quit and is expected to join BJP or contest as an independent from Srigonda in the sugarcane-rich Ahmednagar district. Further, former union minister of state Suryakanta Patil from Hingoli district also has resigned and may join the BJP. Party legislator from Murbad and vice president of the Konkan irrigation development corporation, Kisan Kahore is also likely to join the BJP.
Public Works minister Chhagan Bhujbal's close confidant Kishor Kanhere and party legislator Deepak Kesarkar have joined the Shiv Sena.
Moreover, NCP chief Sharad Pawar's confidant and labour leader Vijay Kamble, who was recently denied nomination in the state council, has also quit the party.
"Party leaders' exit is also due to the personal ambitions of these leaders, especially fearing lack of nomination. Some of the leaders despite their defeat want party nomination when other aspirants with winability are in queue," said a NCP leader who didn't want to be named.
He added that the exit of the party leaders and the opposition's move to target the NCP will come up for discussion when the parliamentary board begins interviewing aspirants from today.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena and BJP are happy to rope in the NCP leaders but clarify that all "incoming" members may not get a candidature at the cost of their leaders.
NCP is also perturbed over its projection as the party of corrupt, scam tainted leaders by the likes of Shiv Sena and BJP. It received a setback after the Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau last week sought the state government's approval to initiate a probe against the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and state unit chief Sunil Tatkare in connection with the multi-crore irrigation scam. As expected, Shiv Sena and BJP have made a strong demand for a probe against the ministers.
Both the parties are also targetting the NCP over the alleged scam in carrying out relief and rehabilitation of drought and hailstorm affected farmers and in toll collection.
Both the parties are also targetting the NCP over the alleged scam in carrying out relief and rehabilitation of drought and hailstorm affected farmers and in toll collection.
NCP has already launched a low key advertisement campaign by putting up hoardings in Greater Mumbai, saying it is committed to play a crucial role in Maharashtra.
