Congress on Monday termed as “unjustified” the demand made by NCP, its alliance partner in the Democratic Front (DF) government in Maharashtra, for allocation of 144 seats to contest upcoming Assembly elections.
“There is no question of Congress giving equal share (of seats) to NCP. There is no justification for this demand,” state unit Congress president Manikrao Thakre told party workers at a rally here.
The elections for 288-member Assembly are due later this year.
State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also spoke on the occasion.
Thakre said that the list of party candidates will be ready by August 16-17.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of NCP had sought equal number of seats for his party in the upcoming Assembly polls, citing “improved performance” in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“As NCP’s strength in the state has grown in the recent Lok Sabha polls as compared to Congress, we should get 144 seats, an equal share with our ally Congress in the ensuing Assembly polls,” Pawar had said.
The Congress won two seats in the recently-held general elections in Maharashtra, while the NCP got four.
Meanwhile, speaking to party workers, former MPs Vilas Muttemwar and Mukul Wasnik appealed to them to resolve differences and fight unitedly.
Muttemwar criticised Narendra Modi government for “ill-treating senior Congress ministers and MPs who lost the Lok Sabha elections”.
“Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu has served notices on former Congress ministers to vacate their bungalows within specific time limit or else their belongings will be thrown out.
“This has never happened in the past. Winning or losing is a part of the game and MPs like me who occupied the house for last 35 years are shabbily treated,” Muttemwar said.
