Gujarat is all set to witness four-cornered contest in the upcoming Assembly elections as Sharad Pawar’s political outfit Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) decided to throw its hat in the ring.
Earlier this month Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadami Party (AAP) announced to contest from all 182 Assembly constituencies in the ensuing polls. Senior NCP leader and Member of Parliament Praful Patel indicated that, his party would contest from 80 Assembly constituencies and try to win maximum.
At present NCP’s strength in 182 members Gujarat Assembly is just two. And in the case of AAP, the party has yet to open its account. Unlike many other States in the country, Assembly polls in Gujarat are contested by two rival parties – Congress and BJP. In the past Janata Dal and even NCP contested but in alliance with either of the two arch rivals.
“On Sunday NCP chief Pawar will inaugurate Gujarat headquarters at Ahmedabad. We want our candidates to contest from maximum seats in the upcoming Assembly polls. Our aim is to strengthen party’s presence in the State in view of 2017 Assembly polls and beyond,” said Patel on Friday.
He, however, said that his party was open to contest on its own as well as for pre-poll alliance with other political outfits. Final decision on contesting the Assembly polls in Gujarat would be taken only after August considering the fact that the elections were scheduled in December, he added.
“Situation in Gujarat has deteriorated despite the claims of development by ruling party, problem of unemployment is becoming huge. Farmers are not getting adequate prices for their agriculture produce. law and Order situation in the state too is at its lowest point. People of Gujarat want a strong alternate. The way NCP generating response in district places, our party can emerge as the best option for them,” claimed Patel.