MUMBAI: The uphill task of bagging a “respectable share” of seats from alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party awaits Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan after the Congress made it clear he will lead the party in the October Assembly polls.
Chavan is under tremendous pressure from party colleagues to discard NCP’s demand of equal share in 288 seats. Chavan took a firm stand at a coordination meeting with NCP and maintained that it was not possible for the Congress to give away half the pie to NCP. However, two days later he said the Congress was willing to compromise and offered to give NCP 10 seats more than 2009. In 2009, Congress contested 174 seats, and NCP 114.
Chavan’s colleagues say NCP’s demand is a pressure tactic to bag more seats. Congress legislators seem inclined to contesting the election independently.
A senior state minister said the party can save face in the polls only if it breaks away from NCP. “They are on sticky wicket and cornered over certain issues. We are in better position. If we don’t listen to workers, I don’t think Congress can win even 40 seats,” the minister said.
Central observers’ report has vindicated the minister’s claim. The observers took stock of every constituency and submitted their report to the Congress high command last week. A source said the observers recommended going solo in the election.
Meanwhile, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare refused to give importance to Congress’ internal studies. “Now, the ball is in Delhi’s court. Our president and their president will take a final call on the alliance,” he said.
Chavan’s detractors in Congress are also creating hurdles. When senior leader Narayan Rane termed Chavan inefficient, no one came to his defence. Chavan’s supporters believe that state president Manikrao Thakare and in charge Mohan Prakash will try to sabotage his efforts for a respectable solution to the seat sharing deadlock.
Thakare and Prakash who always oppose Chavan on every issue are also part of the screening committee. Previously Chavan has managed to have the final word because of his closeness to the high command. It remains to be seen whether the high command stands behind him when there is a clamour in the party for Chavan’s head.