NCP plans to finalise new state chief soon

Heavyweights of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) along with their leaders from its frontal organisations will converge here on Saturday to thrash out 2014 poll strategies as well as decide its new state chief.

The working committee will have party chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Union Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel, who is also party's general secretary of Maharashtra, as well as all the members of parliament, legislators and municipal corporators.

Talking to the media, spokesperson Nawab Malik on Thursday said the party would also announce its new state president in the extended NCP Working Committee meeting.

The party state president post fell vacant after the incumbent Madhukar Pichad was inducted as a minister in the Maharashtra cabinet two days ago.

Political observers said the new state president’s appointment “becomes importance as the person appointed will lead the party in next year’s Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections.”

He would also indicate the overall strategy that is likely to be adopted in the 2014 elections.