Alliance with NCP proved detrimental to Cong growth: Chavan

Conceding that its alliance with Sharad Pawar-led NCP has hurt the party organisation in Maharashtra to a great extent, Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the party will now focus on strengthening itself in the districts where it is facing extinction.
"Due to coalition with NCP, Congress organisation faced a virtual extinction in several districts like Jalgaon, Beed, Thane among others. Our endeavour will be to strengthen the party organisation in such districts," state unit Congress president Ashok Chavan said during his interaction with reporters here today.
The former chief minister said Congress has accepted the NCP's proposal for forging a post-poll alliance in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, which went to polls recently, as there was no question of supporting the BJP and Sena.

"There is no question of supporting Sena and BJP. So, we accepted the NCP's offer (of post-poll alliance) and we are getting the post of Deputy Mayor in NMMC," he said.
Chavan said his party will stay away from striking pre-poll alliances and concentrate on rebuilding of the party organisation instead.
Congress was decimated to just two seats in Maharashtra, its stronghold, in the Lok Sabha elections of last year.

The Congress-NCP alliance, which had been at the helm in the state for fifteen years was dislodged from power by BJP and Shiv Sena in last year's Assembly elections.
Congress and NCP had contested the polls separately so did BJP and Sena.

Sena is now a ruling partner in the BJP-led Central and state government.