‘Will seek clarity on alliance’, says NCP ahead of meeting with Uddhav Thackeray

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is expected to meet Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree to seek clarity on the alliance ahead of the civic polls.

NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil will visit Thackeray at Matoshree (Uddhav’s residence).

By Ritvick Arun Bhalekar: A day after Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is expected to meet Uddhav to seek clarity on the newly formed alliance.

NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil will visit Thackeray at Matoshree (Uddhav’s residence). The leaders will deliberate upon the alliance’s future ahead of by-polls in Pune’s Kasba and Chinchwad. The focus will also be on outlining the plan for the upcoming civic elections.

Earlier today, NCP chief Sharad Pawar addressed a meeting with senior party leaders and reviewed the preparations for the upcoming polls. The new alliance between Uddhav Thackeray (Maha Vikas Aghadi, or MVA ally) and VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar was also discussed.

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Following the meeting, Ajit Pawar stated that during MVA’s rule, Uddhav’s Sena and NCP had decided to contest upcoming civic polls in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in an alliance. However, the political scenario in the state changed in the past six months.

He said it is no secret that Shiv Sena commands a stronghold in Mumbai. That is why they want to contest the Mumbai civic polls together, adding that it was Uddhav Thackeray’s right to decide with whom he wants to forge an alliance.

“During initial discussions, we had an understanding that Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress from the MVA will allot seats from their respective quotas to their allies apart from the MVA. But now we do not have clarity about the division of seats after the new political equations taking place,” said Sharad Pawar’s nephew.

“Therefore, we will meet senior leaders of our allies to have more clarity”, he said.

Responding to Prakash Ambedkar’s differences with Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar said the NCP was not upset and ready to bury past differences.

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