Congress, NCP leaders discuss Maharashtra Assembly poll plan

MUMBAI: After suffering a rout in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, Congress and NCP leaders met here tonight to deliberate on their plan of action to face the crucial Assembly polls later this year.

NCP President Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, his deputy Ajit Pawar and Maharashtra Congress head Manikrao Thakre were present at the meeting which lasted for over two hours.

According to sources, issues like reservation in jobs and education for Maratha and Muslim communities and reviewing local body tax, which had put traders on warpath with the government, are likely to be taken for discussion on priority basis as the two allies seek to boost their poll prospects.

"It was also decided to ensure micro planning of political strategy separately by both parties and then jointly to aggressively highlight the Congress-NCP government's achievements in the last decade and half," they said.

This was the first meeting between Chavan and Pawar after the disastrous performance of the Congress-NCP in the Lok Sabha polls where the alliance ended up with just six of the 48 Parliamentary seats in the state.

Assembly election is due in Maharashtra by October.