Manikrao Thakre discusses party strategy for upcoming local body polls

MUMBAI: Congress party, which suffered massive defeats in the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections this year, is gearing up to face some local bodies polls in Maharashtra, which are likely to be announced soon.

Elections to Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad municipal corporations and zilla parishads of Thane and newly carved out district of Palghar are likely be held early next year.

State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre said the election dates are expected to be announced soon.

Thakre held talks with former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and other leaders from Marathwada to discuss the party strategy for the upcoming polls.

Congress will be facing a uphill task of countering attack from Sena-BJP and NCP.

NCP is in power in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, while Sena-BJP rules the Aurangabad civic body.

NCP is dominant in the Thane Zilla Parishad, while Palghar will have its first local body election since the new district came into existence in August this year.