Congress aligns with Samajwadi Party for Maharashtra assembly polls

MUMBAI: After NCP parted ways from the Congress in Maharashtra, the party has moved ahead to align with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming state assembly elections.

Samajwadi Party spokesman Abdul Qadir Chaudhary said Abu Asim Azmi, the state SP chief, met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Congress President Manikrao Thakare last night and decided to finalise the new alliance.

He said Samajwadi Party will contest eight seats in alliance in Congress.

"About four to five seats including Shivajinagar-Mankhurd from where Azmi himself is sitting MLA and is seeking re-election (would be contested)," Chaudhary said.

Talks are on for seats like Bhiwandi, Kurla, Miraj, Nagpur Central among others, he said.

Congress will also align with Jogendra Kawade and Sulabha Kumbhare's political outfits which have presence in Vidarbha.

Thakre said the party had a tie-up with them in the Lok Sabha elections as well.

Meanwhile, Congress has also decided to take support of Sanjay Khodke, formerly with NCP in Amravati district.

"Khodke's wife Sulabha, a former NCP MLA, will be the congress candidate from Badnera. While Khodke will help the Congress in other constituencies of Amravati district.

Yesterday, the NCP announced its decision to break ties with Congress soon after the crumbling of the 25-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.