Sir — This refers to the article, “Is it an end game for the NCPIJ” (March 1) by Kalyani Shankar. The just-concluded civic body elections in Maharashtra have come as a big boost for the BJP and a shock for both the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
It may not be an end game for the NCP yet as its chief, Sharad Pawar, has faced many ups and downs in the past and has emerged as a strong leader. But the larger question is: Barring Sharad Pawar, who else is there to take the party to new heightsIJ There is no convincing answer to this.
The columnist has rightly said that the NCP remains a one-man party and that it is what it is today due to Sharad Pawar. His idea of forging an alliance with the Congress is an attempt to regain relevance. But one thing is certain: It’s really an end game for the MNS. It is high time that Raj Thackeray understands this and aligns with his cousin to remain relevant in the State’s politics.