Senior Congress, NCP MLAs clamour for poll alliance

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena’s decision to contest the 2019 polls on its own has enthused the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders. Senior MLAs from both parties are putting pressure on their leaders to enter into an alliance again. The MLAs want to seal the pact and declare it as soon as possible.

During the winter session at Nagpur in December, Congress MLA Sunil Kedar had publicly spoken about the need of an alliance between Congress and NCP in the state. 

After the Sena’s announced its decision to go solo, Mr Kedar has reiterated his demand. “Shiv Sena’s decision is in a way, instructions to its cadre to prepare for the polls. We need to gear up and start reaching out to the masses. We need to join hands with like-minded parties to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) divisive politics.” He said that he has conveyed his stance to the party’s high command. 

NCP leader Sunil Tatkare also echoed similar sentiments. “We have been asking for an alliance from the start. Recently, we were asking for an alliance in Gondia. But Congress didn’t sit with us. Congress as elder brother needs to take the initiative in forming an alliance,” he said.

The chorus for the alliance is likely to increase this week as opposition leaders are joining hands for the Samvidhan Rally. Senior leaders from the Congress, NCP, and the  Samajwadi Party are set to join the march along with important smaller players of state politics like Raju Shetti and PWP’s Jayant Patil. The newly formed front of Republican leaders will also participate in the march.