Congress will sweep PUC, PCMC in civic polls: Kalmadi

Pune, Jan 8 (UNI) The Congress will get majority in the 144-seat Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the 105-seat Pimri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), claimed city MP Suresh Kalmadi today.

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Kalmadi said the Congress had taken many initiatives like the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) and efforts were on to change the look of Pune for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games and make it a global city.

''We have already taken a lead over Bangalore in attracting the IT companies,'' he said.

Talking about the NCP, he alleged that they were playing a divisive card and obstructing progressive works in the city, while the Shiv Sena-BJP combine posed no challenge.

On the occasion, NCP leader Shantilal Suratwala, a Sharad Pawar loyalist, joined the Congress.

UNI