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Undeterred by recent surveys conducted by various TV channels showing poor performance in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday put up a brave front saying that the party is quite thankful for media for making them alert and thereby gear up for the preparations for the parliamentary elections. NCP also reiterated that it's alliance with co-partner Congress will continue. As per the seat sharing implemented during 2004 and 2009 elections, Congress will contest 26 seats while balance 22 by NCP in the state.
NCP's state unit chief Bhaskar Jadhav, who was accompanied by working president Jitendra Avad, told reporters that the party's objective is to improve its own tally and also strive for the victory of Congress candidates so that UPA's strength in the Lok Sabha increases after next general elections. "Jadhav down played the rising of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on the national scene. Besides, Jadhav said NCP is not worried about the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leed by Raj Thackeray joining Shiv Sena-BJP-Republican Party of India to forge grand alliance to take on Congress-NCP.
Jadhav and Avad reiterated that 26:22 formula will continue although state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre on Monday had said that the state Congress unit not yet aware of finalization of such formula. Avad said "The formula has been already finalized at the level of national leaders of both Congress and NCP. Our leader and union minister Praful Patel has made announcement in this regard. I am here to inform you about NCPand not about Congress party,'' he added.
Jadhav said the coordination committee of senior leaders of Congress and NCP will soon meet to work out a comprehensive action plan for elections.
Jadhav said his party will make an all out efforts to reach out to voters representing various communities in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. He also announced a 41 member new state executive council and said each member will be given a representative of district or region or the Lok Sabha constituency in a bid to increase NCP's presence and bring members of the public into the party fold.
Avad informed that the size of state executive council has been trimmed from 240 members to 41 members while giving representation to various communities including muslims, minorities, OBCs, notified tribes and Maratha. The council also includes women.
On controversial issue of providing reservation to the politically influential Maratha community, Jadhav and Avad said the NCP is of the view that reservations be given to all economically weaker sections from various communities including Maratha community without disturbing the current reservation structure granted within the parameters of Constitution of India.
