NCP keen to reap benefits by continuing its truck with Congress

Divided opposition good news for Maharashtra ruling alliance

Cornered by it's co partner Congress and opposition parties over alleged involvement of several party ministers in various scams, the ruling Nationalist Congress Party has dropped its plans to go solo but announced to fight ensuing parliamentary and assembly elections in an alliance with Congress.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has snubbed his party leaders who were spearheading their own agenda of NCP fighting alone. At the same time he indicated that divided opposition is a good news for both NCP and Congreess to retain their supremacy inthe state.

Pawar' timing is crucial when Congress party vice president Rahul Gandhi is involved in rapport building exercise with UPA allies and also exploring options to bring new ones ahead of next elections. Further, Pawar chose to declare continuation of his party's alliance with Congress in Maharashtra when Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena punctured opposition Shiv Sena, BJP and RPI front's plan to form a grand alliance to defeat congress-NCP. Instead, Raj announced his party's decision to go alone in next general elections.

State NCP chief Madhukar Pichad told Business Standard "NCP alike Congress has every right to spread its wings by reaching out to a large number of sections of the society, NCP has emerged at number one party in civic and local body elections held last year. Our party chief has made it clear that next elections will be fought in an alliance with Congress. This will disappoint opposition."

However, NCP minister, who did not want to be identified, said NCP cannot simply dump Congress as the party needs latter's association more. " Congress is a national party with its presence in almost all sections of the society. it will be easier for NCP to make inroads and increase its presence if the alliance continues, If the party decides to go solo, it will be suicidal as Congress and opposition will not leave any opportunity to expose party and it's ministers for their involvement on scams and corruption case. This will be too damaging fro Pawar and NCP in general."

On the other hand Congress also indicated that it was not interested to go solo but keep it alliance with NCP in tact. State Congress president Manikrao Thakre said there are few options for both the parties. "Alliance between Congress and NCP will remain in place. Ultimate decisio. In this regard will be taken b the party high command," he noted.

Thakre also snubbed move by newly elected MP Rajani Patil to make a case for Congress going solo.