Mumbai, January 11

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday said that it is not
in favour of early polls for the Maharashtra Assembly so as to
conduct these in tandem with Lok Sabha polls if they are advanced.

At a meeting of the state executive in Mumbai to take stock of the
poll preparations of the party, the NCP said that it would face the
parliamentary polls if they were advanced, but was in favour of
allowing the state assembly to complete its full five-year term.

"Conditions are not favourable for a mid-term assembly poll," State
NCP president RR Patil said at the end of the meeting held
at 'Parnakuti', the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister,
Vijay Singh Mohite-Patil.

NCP national president, Sharad Pawar presided over the meeting,
which was attended by almost all senior NCP leaders in the state.

The State NCP President said the Centre has the prerogative to
decide when to hold the Lok Sabha elections and hence the NCP would
abide by whatever decision it takes. "But in the state we will allow
the Assembly to complete its term," Patil added.

Commenting on the discussions held during state executive meeting,
Patil said that the executive took constituency-wise review of the
entire state, besides the party stance on alliance with various
friendly parties for coming polls.

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