Civic polls: Cong asks district units to take call on tie-ups

Congress has authorised its district units in Maharashtra to decide on alliances for the forthcoming elections to 212 civic bodies, including municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
While majority of district presidents who attended the two-day parliamentary board meeting of the party here stressed the need to align with local outfits, many of them are of the view that the party should go alone in polls, even as a few sought tie-up with NCP, sources said.
"State unit chief Ashok Chavan told them that they are authorised to take appropriate decisions in the interest of the party. The parliamentary board also finalised candidates for the post of president of municipal councils for most of the places as the direct election for the post (of president) is taking place for the first time," according to sources.

The Congress parliamentary board also discussed probable candidates for the forthcoming polls.
District presidents, office-bearers in charge of the districts and observers were present at the meeting besides party leaders.
The polls for the civic bodies spanning 25 districts will be held in four phases between November and January next.