A day after inviting Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to join the Opposition to avoid division of votes, against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ajit Pwar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former State deputy Chief Minister, on Wednesday held a meeting with Mr. Thackeray in Dadar.

While more details of the meeting are awaited, majority of the other leaders of the two parties also did not know about it. MNS sources said this may be the first time that meeting between the leaders is public, but back-channel talks have been going on for months.

“MNS is an important factor for the NCP. It may not be in the position to win, but it can damage Opposition candidates by securing sizeable votes. This will harm the Opposition in Nashik, Pune, Thane, Kalyan and a few other seats,” an MNS leader said.

The Opposition also lacks a leader who can take the BJP and Shiv Sena head-on in election campaign rallies, the leader said. “Mr. Thackeray is capable of setting the agenda of election in Maharashtra. He will turn out to be a strong weapon for the Opposition,” he said.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam had earlier opposed the idea of inclusion of Mr. Thackeray in the Opposition front, due to his anti-north Indian stand. However in recent times, the MNS chief has softened his stand and even attended a programme organised by a north Indian front.

Madha constituency

While the NCP and MNS are planning to join hands, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is set to contest the 2019 general elections from Madha Lok Sabha constituency, the seat he represented in 2009. “Senior leaders from our party are demanding that [Mr. Sharad Pawar] should contest from Madha Lok Sabha seat. We also think senior leaders should contest the Lok Sabha polls,” NCP Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil said.