NCP in favour of alliance with like-minded parties: Nawab Malik

Mumbai: NCP on Thursday said that it favoured alliance with all like-minded, secular parties to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled later this year. "NCP is open to explore the option of aligning with like-minded, secular parties. Our leaders will start talks with such parties soon," party spokesman Nawab Malik said.

"Even though a section of the party feels it should contest the Assembly polls separately, no decision on this has been taken. In fact, we are of the view that all like-minded parties should be taken along. Division of votes has to be avoided," he said.

Malik, however, denied that NCP and BSP could enter into an alliance, in view of Sharad Pawar's proposed meeting with Mayawati. "Pawar continues to meet leaders of several parties to discuss how to jointly function as an opposition force at the national level," he said, adding that "no decision has been taken as yet regarding alliance with BSP."

Referring to the alliance with Congress, Malik said that seat-sharing formula with Congress for Maharashtra Assembly elections will be decided after NCP chief Sharad Pawar meets the Congress central leadership in a week's time. NCP expects the seat-sharing talks to consider strengths of each party and merit and winnability of a candidate for each seat while deciding on the seat adjustment, he said.

"We are confident that NCP will get more seats if these criteria are considered," he said. In 2009, Congress contested 174 and NCP 114 Assembly seats. The district-wise review of the party's strengths and local political situation is currently being studied by the leadership, Malik said.

He also informed that a manifesto drafting committee headed by Dilip Walse Patil, Speaker of the 12th Legislative Assembly, has been constituted. "The other members include state Home Minister RR Patil, Medical Education Minister Jitendra Awhad, Baramati MP Supriya Sule and editor of the party's inhouse magazine Sudhir Bhongale," he said, adding he will be the committee's convener.

"An extended committee will finalise the draft of the manifesto prepared and later after discussions with the Congress, a joint manifesto will be released," he added.