NCP leaders request their chief to contest LS polls

Mumbai: A day after a meeting with all opposition leaders in New Delhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders on Thursday unanimously insisted to party president Sharad Pawar on contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Madha constituency. 

Former Union minister and senior NCP leader Praful Patel said that the alliance of NCP with Congress is almost final. The party leaders want Sharad Pawar to contest this election.
  
“We all have asked Sharad Pawar to contest from Madha Lok Sabha seat. We are not only requesting, but have also insisted that he should consider our demands and we are sure that he will accept it. We are not making any official announcement as of now, but it will be made soon when he asks us to do,” said Patel. He was speaking after the party’s meeting to finalise candidates for the General Elections.  

Former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that he has not announced his decision yet. “We are confident that NCP chief will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls,” said Ajit Pawar.
 
Jayant Patil, an NCP spokesperson, said that there would be like-minded parties in the Mahagathbandhan. “NCP and Congress have sorted out a majority of differences between them and are now waiting to hold discussions with other allies such as Raju Shetty led Swabhimani Shetkari Sangahtana (SSS), left parties and also Prakash Ambedkar. The BBM leader has formed an alliance with AIMIM and has announced to contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats, which is likely to divide anti-BJP votes,” said Patil.