Even before the alliance between two factions of the NCP could be formed in Pimpri-Chinchwad, doubts have arisen over demands for ”a big number of seats” by the Sharad Pawar-led party. The NCP said it was keen to have an alliance with NCP (S-) but it would be difficult to meet their seat demands.
On Thursday night, NCP (SP) leaders MP Amol Kolhe and MLA Rohit Pawar first landed in Pimpri-Chinchwad and held discussions with NCP leaders including city president Yogesh Behl. Later, they went to Ajit Pawar’s residence in Bhosalenagar.
”On Thursday, the NCP (SP) leaders held a discussion with us over seat-sharing. The meeting remained inconclusive,” Behl told The Indian Express.
Behl said the NCP (SP) initially made a demand for contesting 27 seats but later they came down to 23 seats. ”This is a big number. It will be difficult to share so many seats with them but we will again hold negotiations and reach a solution,” said Behl.
Behl said they would be discussing the demand made by NCP (SP) with their national president Ajit Pawar. ”I think they already met Ajit Pawar but he told them that he would discuss the issue with local leadership,” he said, adding, ‘let’s ‘wait and watch.”
On the other hand, MP Kolhe said,” We have held primary discussions with NCP leaders in Pimpri-Chinchwad. We will inform our party leadership about the discussion that we held. The party leadership will decide whether it is possible to form alliance in Pimpri-Chinchwad like it is being done in Pune.”
Kolhe, who is NCP (SP)’s chief in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said the party will take into account the view of the majority of party workers and leaders. ”Only after that will we form an alliance,” he said.
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Kolhe said it was important to hold dialogue in a democracy. ”We are at the stage of holding discussions. No one should jump to conclusions. So far, we have not made a decision,” he said.
Behl said some of the NCP (SP) leaders have approached them and want to contest on NCP’s clock symbol. ”The leaders from NCP (SP) approached us. They said let the alliance be formed but they want to contest on our symbol. We are looking into this demand,” he said. To this, Kolhe rebutted, saying that this topic did not come up for during their meeting with NCP leaders.
Behl said the Shiv Sena has also approached them for seat-sharing. ”Our talks with Shiv Sena are also under way,” he said.
The new civic general body of PCMC will have 128 corporators. There are in all 32 prabhags which are going to polls. Each prabhag will elect four corporators.
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Meanwhile, the BJP today said their first list of candidates will be declared on Sunday.
”The local unit of BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad has submitted its final list of candidates to the state leadership. The party leadership has taken stock of the aspirants. And now the first list will be declared on Sunday,” said BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap, who is the party’s chief campaign chief.
Jagtap said,”A meeting regarding our candidates was held by the party’s core committee. The party’s state leadership and core committee will approve the names sent by the local leadership,” he said.
Jagtap said,”BJP’s vision is development. No matter what the opposition says, it will have no impact on our party. The victory of our candidates is a certainty.”
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Jagtap said the party has always done justice to loyal leaders. ”We have a history of doing justice to our loyal leaders. And that is why even after our list is announced, no one will be unhappy. Some party leaders do become unhappy but after the final decision by the party leadership, they get down to working for the party in the elections… Anyone who wants to join our party should have a vision of development. We will welcome him,” he said.
Exuding confidence that BJP will romp home after its maiden victory in PCMC polls in 2017, Jagtap said, ”BJP has a large number of candidates with elective merit and therefore we have no doubt that the party will return to power with thumping majority.”