Mah NCP begins ground work for 2009 LS, assembly polls

Mumbai, May 8 (UNI) Maharashtra Pradesh Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), coalition partner in the ruling Democratic Front (DF) government, has begun the ground work for the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for 2009.

Addressing a press conference here after a meeting of the extended working committee here today, state unit President Arun Gujarathi said the first step towards the preparation was interaction with grassroot workers and office-bearers.

''In the last two days, we interacted with our grassroot leadership to elicit their views on strengthening the organisation ahead of the crucial polls and also ensuring that factionalism was minimised,''he said.

Mr Gujarathi expressed satisfaction with his party's performance in the recent civic elections to urban and rural local bodies. Except Mumbai and Thane, NCP's vote share has increased, he claimed.

He said the party has taken serious view of its debacle in Mumbai civic polls in February this year. ''We will require to devote an entire day to discuss about strengthening the party in Mumbai which will be done soon,'' Gujarathi said.

He also informed that the party has decided to set up a manifesto committee to review the promises made by the party for the 2004 assembly polls. Price rise, farmers suicide and loadshedding have been identified as a primary cause of concern as the party braces up to face the electorate in 2009. He said in the days to come, the party will be discussing how to tackle these issues ahead of the polls.

Mr Gujarathi said having a separate feeder system was one of the solution to the loadshedding problem. ''if separate feeders are set up, agriculturists will get atleast eight hours of uninterrupted power supply in a day,''he added.

UNI