Mah Cong to contest municipal council elections on its own

Mumbai, Oct 13 (UNI) Maharashtra Congress today said it will contest the November 19 elections to 166 municipal councils and two nagar panchayats in the state on its own.

Party spokesman Sanjay Nirupam told a press conference that District Congress Committees (DCCs) have been authorised to take their own decisions on forging alliances with secular parties locally, if required, to keep communal forces at bay.

He said the State Parliamentary Board will meet on October 16 to finalise selection of the candidates.

''We have sent two observers to each of the 166 municipal council areas for a ground assessment of the political situation. They will submit the on October 15 and it will be discussed at the Parliamentary Board meeting,'' he added.

He said the party is yet to take a decision on alliances for Zila Parishad and Municipal corporations elections scheduled next year.

Meanwhile, Mr Nirupam, an estranged Shiv Sena leader, demanded strict action against Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for indulging in street violence recently in Mumbai and other parts of the state.

''They have damaged public property and held people to ransom,'' he charged.

UNI MR MAZ AK ND1842