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  Congress to go it alone in local body elections

Congress to go it alone in local body elections

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Sep 28, 2016, 6:59 am IST
Updated : Sep 28, 2016, 6:59 am IST

In the wake of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel’s caustic remarks against the Congress, the latter is likely to go it alone in the upcoming local body elections in the state

In the wake of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel’s caustic remarks against the Congress, the latter is likely to go it alone in the upcoming local body elections in the state, including in Mumbai.

The former Union minister had criticised the Congress and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan for the defeat of the NCP. Congress party workers at meetings in several district units, including the MPCC, expressed anger at the comments.

MPCC vice-president and former minister Naseem Khan said, “Party workers have been furious after Mr Patel made those comments. Mr Chavan is our leader and was chief minister of the state. We cannot tolerate insults and baseless allegations against him.”

He added, “Mr Patel’s stand against Congress will definitely affect the alliance for the coming local body elections.”

Next year will be election year, as more than seven municipal corporations along with zilla parishads and panchayat samitis will go to the polls.

Congress and NCP had contested the recently-held Legislative Council elections together. However, MPCC president Ashok Chavan said no decision has been taken on whether or not to join forces with the NCP. “Earlier we held a meeting with NCP leaders to take a final call about the alliance, but no decision has been taken yet,” said Mr Chavan.

When asked whether party cadres were disappointed with Mr Patel’s statement, Mr Chavan said such issues would be raised when Congress and NCP meet for the alliance.