NCP poised to form government in PMC and PCMC

Pune, Feb 2 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) is all poised to rule the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), emerging as the largest single party by winning 42 seats out of total 144, and 60 out of total 105 seats respectively.

Addressing a press conference after the results here, NCP leader and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar said that his party was committed for the development of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

''Although the NCP had a clear majority in Pimpri, all the leaders would discuss later under the guidance of NCP President Sharad Pawar and take stock of all the ten corporations. ''I was confident of winning more seats but the defeat of 8 candidates has given us a setback. However, around 8 independents have already given us their support, he claimed.

When asked about forming an alliance with Congress, he said he wanted to defeat the ''Kalmadi Congress'' but had nothing against the others like Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Balasaheb Shivarkar, but the entire process will take a month, after all concerned are taken into confidence.

Ajit Pawar said that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has won 8 seats which was a good show for a new party still to complete a year, he claimed to have their support as well. He also said that BJP and Sena despite not having a proper campaign had done well, as a fall out of the bickerings between the Congress and NCP.

When asked about bad condition of roads in Pune, Pawar said before the rains, a decision to fix them will be taken. To another query about ongoing developmental works, Pawar said their party would support the projects but deal with it with a vision for the city without inconveniencing the citizens, he said.

A meeting of NCP leaders including Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Union Minister Praful Patel, Arun Gujarathi, Dilip-Walse Patil under NCP leader Sharad Pawar will take place shortly, while a meeting of all the successful candidates here will be held tomorrow, Pawar said.

In PMC, sitting Mayor Rajni Tribhuvan of Congress has retained the seat while former BJP city unit Chief Vijay Kale lost, former Mayor Dipti Chaudhary of Congress has lost her deposit. Congress has lost 15 seating seats so far.

The party wise position in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad is as follows: Pune Municipal Corporation (144 seats) Cong 35 NCP 42 BJP 25 SS 20 MNS 08 Ind. 14 Total 144 Party position in PCMC(105 seats) Cong 20 NCP 60 BJP 09 SS 04 RPI 01 Others 11 Total 105 UNI