PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears to have made Pune its base to monitor all future poll-related activities. The State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held next year.
The NCP has arranged three major events in Pune next month: conclusion of its Halla Bol agitation against the agrarian distress and unemployment, its foundation day function and the national convention.
The party has a strong base in Pune and the district. Some city and suburbs of Pune supported the NCP in the past elections. However, the party received setbacks in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and the district in the last assembly and civic polls.
This is the first time the NCP will conduct its foundation day and the national convention in Pune. Earlier this month, NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced Jayant Patil as party’s Maharashtra unit president during a function in Pune.
The party’s much-publicised “Halla Bol” agitation’s concluding phase against agrarian distress and unemployment and the foundation day will be held on June 10 in the city. The NCP will organise its foundation day and the national convention at the Balewadi Stadium on June 23 and 24.
When contacted, party MP and its city unit president Vandana Chavan told Sakal Times, “This is the first time my party has organised its foundation day and national convention functions in Pune. The decision was taken because of the city’s connectivity to other parts in the State and the country.” But she couldn’t explain why the NCP has zeroed in on Pune for its main party functions.
Pawar for Pune Lok Sabha?
When asked to comment on speculations that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar would contest from the Pune Lok Sabha seat as the party has suddenly become more active in Pune, Chavan said, “I don’t know about that. But we have to be prepared for the elections. We don’t know what will happen in the future.”
She said, “In the last elections, we were very organised as a party. We have a strong network in the city. We want to do the same thing this time also.”
NCP leader Ajit Pawar has already staked his party’s claim on the Pune Lok Sabha seat. He announced that they have a strong candidate for the elections, whose name they would reveal at a proper time.
