Cong-NCP to highlight growth, stable govt and safety in ad campaign

Congress, which had won 17 seats in 2009 polls, will contest 26 seats in Maharashtra. On the other hand, NCP, which managed to bag 8 seats, will field its nominees in 21 parliamentary constituencies in the state. Both the parties are also planning joint media blitzkrieg.

Maharashtra minister of state for home Satej Patil, who is part of the Congress team, told Business Standard “Our focus will clearly be on transparency, good governance, devolution of power, empowerment of women. In addition to this, we will also cash in on the Mr Clean image of state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.’’\

Patil said Congress party will also play up the achievements of UPA and state governments in the proposed campaign. He informed that the government had made all efforts to provide relief to the natural calamity hit people across Maharashtra and will continue to do for those who are affected due to hailstorm and untimely rainfall.

‘’ We will appeal to the voters for a stable government at the Centre which is committed to inclusive growth,’’ he added.

NCP spokesman Narendra Verma at the outside clarified that his party is not keen to project Sharad Pawar as the Prime Ministerial candidate knowing party’s strength and the seats it was contesting in Maharashtra and other parts of India. ‘’However, we will lay emphasis on growth and stability and empowerment of all sections. Besides, Pawar led agriculture ministry’s stellar performance during UPA II,’’ he said.

Verma down played corruption charges leveled by Shiv Sena-BJP alliance against NCP leaders saying that the party is capable to counter them. ‘’Notwithstanding similar allegations made against our party and minister, NCP and Congress together bagged 25 seats in 2009 general elections and 144 in the assembly polls held in October same year,’’ he noted.