Brand alliance

The Congress and the NCP had promised a grand alliance in Maharashtra with all secular parties under its wing. But as things stand today, th...

The Congress and the NCP had promised a grand alliance in Maharashtra with all secular parties under its wing. But as things stand today, the two parties have more or less each other for company with the rest of the flock deciding to go it alone.

A senior Congress functionary summed up the scene saying, ‘‘we have a brand alliance (of Congress parties) rather than a grand alliance.’’ The Peasants and Workers Party and Janata Dal (S) of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, which supported the Shinde Government, took the lead in dumping the Congress-NCP alliance to contest the elections on their own. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party did not appear to be a potential ally of the Congress due to the strain created between them in UP politics.

The BSP could have been a useful ally in Vidarbha but the Congress decided not to take it along for the fear that it would get a solid foothold in the region.

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The real setback to the secular formation was the decision of the two Communist parties to stay out. The CPI and CPI (M), which had given an indication to settle down for eight seats after staking their claim over 17, turned down the alliance offer of four seats on Tuesday and decided to contest 33 on their own. The CPI is fielding 17 candidates and the CPI (M) 16. The CPI (M) decision has far-reaching consequences in Solapur-South, from where CM Sushilkumar Shinde is contesting.

The RJD has rejected Congress offer of the solitary Ghatkopar seat. It has decided to contest Nanded, Igatpuri, Deolali, Malad and Akola on its own.

The BRP-BMS led by Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of B.R. Ambedkar, has already decided to go it alone. Sharad Pawar’s long-standing ally, RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, has turned down his offer of four seats. He has fielded over 100 candidates. Athawale is reportedly seeking at least 12 seats and a Union berth for himself.

Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP has already tied up with Anna Dange’s Lokrajya Party. The sole ally left with Congress is RPI (Gavai) with the possibility of a last-minute compromise open till withdrawals, possible till September 25.