MUMBAI: A crucial meeting – actually the third round of meetings between Mumbai NCP leaders Nawab Malik, Sana Malik and Zeeshan Siddiqui, led by state party president and MP Sunil Tatkare concluded on Thursday. The meeting focused on identifying and finalising candidates and assessing the party’s ability and preparedness to go solo in Mumbai.
With talks over a possible reunion of the two factions (Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar) of the Nationalist Congress Party in Pune for the Maharasthra polls have been put on the back burner for now, the Ajit Pawar unit has begun preparations to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently and several meetings have been held in the past few days.
“We are preparing to contest around 60 seats, though we are awaiting a final nod from the party leadership,” said NCP MLA Sana Malik, when speaking to the press.
She confirmed that interviews with interested candidates are underway and a shortlist of candidates with local connect in the wards has already been prepared.
Mahayuti partners Shiv Sena and the BJP decided to keep the NCP out of alliance seat-sharing talks, citing the party’s choice of its Mumbai coordinator, Nawab Malik, to lead it in the BMC elections. Besides the BJP feels the NCP Ajit Pawar camp does not count in Mumbai BMC polls.
“The NCP will choose its own leaders. There are attempts to target Nawab Malik, but we will fight the elections on the ideology of Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar,” Sana Malik said, referring to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, and Dr BR Ambedkar
Speaking to NDTV, Sunil Tatkare said the party is close to concluding its Mumbai strategy. “We have been holding meetings with senior leaders for the past three days. We will arrive at a conclusion soon. We may be fighting this election alone,” he said.
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