NCP pushes for more seats in Maharashtra

NCP leaders Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal at the launch of the party's campaign for the Maharashtra polls in Mumbai on Saturday. Photo: Vivek Bendre

Amidst speculation about whether the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will go their separate ways for the Maharashtra polls, NCP chief Sharad Pawar clarified on Saturday that talks were still on and the alliance may launch a joint campaign.

“Talks between us are still on and a decision is expected soon. It is possible that we will have to work on a joint campaign shortly,” Mr. Pawar told party workers at a function to launch the NCP’s campaign for the assembly polls. Talks between the allies have been deadlocked and there has been no response from the Congress to the NCP’s demand for more seats.

However, the former Union Minister Praful Patel pushed the demand for more seats and said the Congress should not consider the NCP “helpless.”