NCP to contest polls in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur with alliance

The NCP would work out alliances with like-minded parties in these polls

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will be contesting Assembly elections in three states of Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur.

“Five states are going to polls, we will contest elections in three states,” Pawar told reporters in Mumbai.

The NCP would work an alliance with like-minded parties in these polls.

On Uttar Pradesh, Pawar said: “People want ‘parivartan’…Uttar Pradesh is set for a change, people are unhappy with the communal politics of the BJP…Communal polarisation is being done in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of Assembly elections. The people of Uttar Pradesh will give a befitting reply to this.”

“The BJP would like to contest the elections on communal lines but I am confident that the voters will not accept it,” said Pawar, a former union minister.

Pawar slammed Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the latter's recent "80:20" statement . “It is not befitting of a senior leader like him seeking to divide the people on religious lines and hurting the sentiments of the minority community there," he said.

Pawar also said in Uttar Pradesh, the NCP would be the part of the alliance led by Samajwadi Party while in Manipur, they are working on alliance with Congress. “We are in talks with Congress and Trinamool Congress,” he said about neighbouring Goa.

Pawar said that NCP leader Praful Patel, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and Goa Congress leaders are in touch discussing things.

Pawar hoped that the Samajwadi Party-led alliance would sweep to power in the ensuing elections, Pawar hinted that at least a dozen more MLAs from various other political parties are likely to enter the SP soon.

On Manipur, Pawar said that the NCP had 4 legislators in the outgoing Assembly. “We will tie-up with Congress to contest five seats,” he said.

Speaking of Punjab, Pawar said that the incumbent Congress will return to power, but with the recent turn of events even the Aam Aadmi Party had become a contender. "It is too early to say anything," he said.

On the much-talked grand opposition alliance at the national level, Pawar reiterated that the Congress must be an integral part of any such opposition front against the BJP.

"It is up to the Congress to decide whether to go alone or join hands with like-minded parties in the coming Assembly elections," he said.

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