As the pressure is mounting on him, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday morning held a meeting of the Congress in Mumbai. He advised partymen to adopt a “wait and watch” policy.
In the meeting, Congress ministers discussed the NCP’s complaint about poor coordination with the Congress in Maharashtra where the two parties share power.
“The NCP leaders have taken up the issue with the Congress’ central leadership. The CM has advised state Congress leaders not to react to developments in the NCP and adopt a “wait and watch” policy,” a source informed.
State Congress president Manikrao Thakre, who was also present at the meeting, said that he has written to Madhukar Pichad, his counterpart in the NCP, requesting for a coordination committee meeting. “We can sit together and resolve things if they feel there is any lack of coordination,” he said, adding that he has written to state NCP chief Madhukar Pichad in this regard.
However, Mr Pichad denied having received any such letter, and said that the decision to hold a coordination committee meeting needs to be taken at the CM’s level. Mr Thakre also said that the Congress was ready to hold monthly meetings of the coordination committee and a suitable date and time should be fixed in consultation with the chief minister and his deputy. “Such a meeting is necessary to discuss the issues between the two parties and for better coordination. They will raise their issues and we too can inform them of our views,” he said. The fight between the Congress and NCP has however led to the Opposition parties in Maharashtra taking pot shots at both the NCP and Congress.