P.C. Chacko joins NCP, to campaign for LDF

Former Congress leader says he will work for victory of LDF candidates in Kerala

PC Chacko. File

Days after announcing his resignation from the Congress party, former MP P.C. Chacko on Tuesday joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at party chief Sharad Pawar’s Delhi residence.

“I am happy to be part of a party which is functioning, active and a party moving with a direction,” Mr. Chacko told reporters after being welcomed by Mr. Pawar, senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Supriya Sule and others.

In Kerala, the NCP is a part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) that is pitted against the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

Ironically, the Congress general secretary in-charge of Kerala is Tariq Anwar, an old associate of Mr. Pawar, who was also a founding member of the NCP.

Mr. Chacko said he will start campaigning for the LDF.

“Today, what is needed is unity of the opposition. A united opposition should emerge as an alternative to the BJP. I do not see that initiative very much from the party that I was in earlier,” he said.

“I am sure that Pawar Sahab, his leadership, contacts will be most effective in forging the unity of the opposition in the country against the misdeeds of the BJP,” he added.

Mr. Pawar, who earlier in the day met CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, endorsed the comment on an alternative front and said he welcomed Mr. Chacko into the party on behalf of senior LDF leaders.