Advantage saffron camp: NCP, Cong to go solo in Thane

THANE: The ruling alliance of the Shiv Sena and BJP in Thane Municipal Corporation has a reason to rejoice on Sunday with the seat-sharing talks between the Congress and NCP failing and both the parties deciding to go it alone for the February 1 civic polls.

The talks between local leaders of both the parties, which began here last night, lasted till 3.30 this morning but failed to reach on an agreement, sources said.

As the last ditch efforts for a reconciliation failed, local leaders of the Congress referred the matter to their high command who in turn communicated to Thane leaders to take a decision as they deemed fit, a senior party leader said.

According to him, a number of Congress leaders said they wanted to go it alone in the elections as they feared the NCP could walk away with the lions share of seats.

The NCP, which had initially agreed to contest on 68 seats leaving 48 for the Congress, later demanded as many as 79 seats in the 116-member corporation, which irked the Congress leaders.

The talks between both the parties, which are partners in the democratic front government in the state, had been on for more than three days. The filing of nominations for the polls will begin from tomorrow and will continue till January 15.

It is learnt that Sena-BJP combine will announce their candidates from Monday.