The Congress and the NCP leaders have agreed “in-principle” to forge an alliance for the civic polls in Mumbai and Thane. However, both the parties are of the opinion that they should go it alone in Pune as the Shiv Sena and the BJP are not so strong there.
Further talks between the Congress and the NCP leaders regarding the alliance will begin on Wednesday in Mumbai. The meeting will be attended by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakre, Maharashtra NCP president Madhukar Pichad and other senior leaders from both the parties.
The NCP and the Congress had launched preliminary talks on Friday to explore the possibility of an alliance for the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls scheduled early next year. “We have decided to form the alliance for Mumbai and Thane. We are also hopeful about Pune,” Mr Pichad said.
Mr Thakre said that the decision on whether to form the alliance for the local body elections in other cities and districts will be taken after consulting the local leadership.
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Poll violation notice to eshwarappa
Shivakumar Malagi
Bellary, Nov. 20
With the campaign for the Bellary ST Assembly seat getting intense, poll violations have also increased with the returning officer for the Bellary rural ST seat bypoll.
Sashikanth Senthil served a notice on state BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa on Sunday for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.
Mr Senthil told this newspaper that Mr Eshwarappa has been charged with violating the code of conduct after he reportedly campaigned in the premises of a temple while seeking support for Gadi Lingappa, the party’s official nominee. “We will look into the video clippings,” he said.
Earlier, P.V. Subba Reddy, an advocate of Bellary, had accused Mr Eshwarappa, BJP nominee Gadi Lingappa, former MLA Shivaram Reddy and MLC Sashil Namoshi of campaigning in the Sri Anjaneya temple premises, violating the code of conduct.
The campaign was conducted on November 19.