MUMBAI: With crucial civic polls round the corner, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he would campaign for NCP nominees in elections to the BMC. "NCP leaders and former members will campaign for NCP nominees, while I too am available for the BMC polls. Let me know in which ward I should campaign, I will be there," Pawar said.
Pawar and NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Eknath Khadse and leader of opposition Ajit Pawar had a meeting with office-bearers of NCP's Mumbai unit on preparedness for the BMC polls. "Alliance or no alliance, we must gear up for the BMC elections under the leadership of Narendra Rane and Rani Jadhav, working presidents of Mumbai NCP," Pawar said.
This is the first time in the recent past that Pawar has declared he will campaign for the BMC polls. NCP in the city was earlier led by Sachin Ahir, who later joined Shiv Sena. Later Nawab Malik took over the reins. Currently Malik is in jail. In the previous House of 227, NCP had just 8 councillors, while Sena had the most (97), followed by BJP (83).
At a juncture when BJP led by Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis is drafting a plan to gain control of BMC and Sena too is making efforts to retain its hold, it will be difficult for Pawar to take on both Sena and BJP. According to reports, NCP may join hands with Sena to keep BJP out of power. An NCP leader said they will focus on 100 seats.
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