With assembly elections announced for Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, the tricky question of choosing the right candidates has begun. In Maharashtra, where the Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance has been in power for 10 years, talks are yet to begin between party stalwarts to seal their electoral pact.
Congressmen say the NCP’s majordomo, Sharad Pawar, is bound to drive a hard bargain this time around to corner more seats for the 288-strong assembly, considering his party put up a better show in the last election.
But, thankfully, talks have been postponed for two weeks now because of ‘pitru paksha’ (ancestor worship) period that is considered inauspicious. Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who is in charge of Maharashtra, has now more breathing space to work out the party’s strategy.
rounak