Focus on Raj Thackeray as Congress, NCP eye anti-BJP front

Amid efforts of the BJP to placate ally Shiv Sena ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, attempts are being made to put up a strong, united opposition in Maharashtra to bring votes against the ruling dispensation in one kitty.

The Congress and NCP have decided to take the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on board for the 2019 general elections. Sources said the possible alliance was discussed during a recent meeting between leaders of the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party.

"Yes, talks of a tie-up with MNS were discussed. We need to garner every single vote against the incumbent government. It was proved in the Lok Sabha bypolls of Gondia-Bhandara, Gorakhpur and Kairana that opposition parties can defeat the BJP if they can come together," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told DNA. He, however, said the discussions are premature at the moment.

Sources said Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had some reservations about the tie-up with MNS, known for its anti-North Indian stance. Nirupam said it might upset North Indian voters who will perhaps ditch the Congress.

"The NCP leaders told Nirupam that most North Indians voted for the BJP in the last BMC elections. Besides, MNS is a strong force in certain pockets of the state, particularly in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Pune. And MNS got more votes than the Congress in certain civic wards of Mumbai," said sources who attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Raj Thackeray held a couple of confidential meetings in Dhule, Pune and Mumbai, said sources. The two leaders are trying to stitch an alliance at a larger level and defining each other's role, they said.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande confirmed the talks. "It is too early. So it's difficult to say anything this stage."

While NCP is leading efforts to bring MNS on board, the Congress is in talks with Prakash Ambedkar, Republican Party of India and Mayawati's BSP. "We [NCP] will give seats to MNS from our quota while Ambedkar, BSP and other smaller parties will get seats from Congress's quota. We need to maintain that fine balance if we want to defeat the BJP and Sena," said a senior NCP leader.