Leave NCP, get VBA on board, Congress workers urge leaders The workers implored the party leadership of considering having a pre-poll alliance with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

Leave NCP, get VBA on board, Congress workers urge leaders

The workers implored the party leadership of considering having a pre-poll alliance with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

Ashok Chavan said that before getting feedback from Congress allies, party will get feedback from people | File photo from PTI

HIGHLIGHTS

• State Congress president Ashok Chavan alleged CM Devendra Fadnavis was trying to split Congressmen
• Ashok Chavan added Vikhe Patil did not show aggressiveness against government when he was in opposition ranks
• Ashok Chavan demanded that the Congress should first clarify about their views on VBA
  The Congress workers on Friday vented out their ire against their ally - the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
  The Congress workers urged the state leadership to go solo in the ensuing assembly elections due in October this year.
  The Maharashtra Congress leadership got a test of the workers' feeling at a review meeting held in Mumbai. The common complaint from the workers was that the NCP did not help the Congress in the recently held Lok Sabha elections and instead they helped the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
  The workers also implored the party leadership of considering having a pre-poll alliance with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).
  A workers, present at the meeting, said that they are doubtful whether an alliance with the NCP will help the Congress's revival in the state.
  "We feel that the NCP is using the Congress for its own benefit. They are eyeing the position of leader of Opposition in the state currently held by the Congress," the worker said.                               
  State Congress president Ashok Chavan alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was trying to split Congressmen.
  
  
  Ashok Chavan, however, expressed confidence that none of the party MLAs will leave the party and join the BJP.
  "The Lok Sabha and assembly elections are fought on different issues. The picture presented in the Lok Sabha polls will not be there for the Assembly polls," Ashok Chavan claimed.
  Ashok Chavan alleged that Devendra Fadnavis was leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to wean Congress MLAs and leaders to the BJP.
  In a sarcastic jibe at former leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chavan said, "For some people getting a phone call from the chief minister was akin to getting a call from the lord almighty."
  Ashok Chavan added that Vikhe Patil did not show aggressiveness against the government when he was in the opposition ranks.
  Ashok Chavan added that before getting feedback from the Congress allies, the party will get feedback from the people and hence the district-wise meetings are being held.
  Ashok Chavan stated that wherever the party has fared badly in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the respective district and taluka unit chiefs have tendered their resignations from their posts.
  Ashok Chavan denied that the meeting discussed probable seat sharing with its allies.
  "Many workers called for a pre-poll alliance with the VBA and have favored such an alliance," Ashok Chavan said.
  
  Giving a cold shoulder to the Congress workers' demand Ambedkar has laid certain conditions for a possible pre-poll alliance.
  Ashok Chavan demanded that the Congress should first clarify about their views on VBA. "The Congress had alleged that the VBA is a B team of the BJP. They should clear what they think of us," Ashok Chavan said.
  
  
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