Maharashtra Assembly polls: ‘Cadres of Mahayuti alliance partners have accepted each other, reflecting in the campaign’

Pune city NCP working president Pradeep Deshmukh says the party is highlighting the schemes of the Maharashtra government and the leadership of Ajit Pawar ahead of the Assembly elections.

Written by Ajay Jadhav

Mumbai | November 12, 2024 02:37 PM IST

3 min read

Pune city NCP working president Pradeep Deshmukh is confident about the Mahayuti alliance’s prospects and says the cadres are “fully charged”. (Instagram/ Pradeep Deshmukh)

As Maharashtra is all set to vote in the Assembly polls on November 20, Pune city NCP working president Pradeep Deshmukh is confident about the Mahayuti alliance’s prospects and says the cadres are “fully charged”.

NCP president Ajit Pawar is from Pune district. Despite the city’s importance, the party is only contesting in two of the Assembly segments in the city. Why?

Pradeep Deshmukh: Pune city is very important for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) considering that the party chief is from the district. The NCP is contesting two seats in the city and a total of 10 seats in Pune district. In a political alliance, adjustments have to be made when it comes to seat-sharing, and this is an acceptable situation for us.

Ahead of the Assembly polls, the NCP has been facing several issues from its alliance partners. How are they being sorted out?

Pradeep Deshmukh: Since the declaration of candidates, there have been no problems. Our only aim is to bring the Mahayuti to power again. So everyone is working unitedly.

Are the alliance partners campaigning in the two seats being contested by the NCP in Pune city?

Pradeep Deshmukh: The NCP is fully charged and campaigning for its two candidates as well as the candidates of alliance partners in other Assembly seats. The alliance partners too are fully involved in campaigning for the NCP’s candidates.

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Didn’t cadres of the Mahayuti alliance partners struggle to work together ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due to previous differences?

Pradeep Deshmukh: The Lok Sabha was the first election that the alliance partners faced together. So things took some time to settle. Ahead of the Assembly election now, matters have changed completely as the cadres have accepted each other and this is reflecting in the campaign.

Will this cooperation continue in the upcoming local body elections?

Pradeep Deshmukh: A few months ago, NCP chief Ajit Pawar clarified during a party meeting in Kesariwada that the alliance would be only for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There will be no alliance for the local body polls.

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On what basis is the NCP seeking votes this time?

Pradeep Deshmukh: We are highlighting the schemes of the Maharashtra government and the leadership of Ajit Pawar for the state’s development. Citizens are convinced that only the Mahayuti can assure the region’s development.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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Maharashtra Assembly elections NCP