Though civic polls are still a year ahead, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has for the first time giving it quite an importance going with series of meetings held by its top leader Praful Patel in city during recent times. While Patel is holding cards close to his chest, but the way he is making himself visible indicates a possibility of NCP is keen to expand its base outside its traditional Western Maharashtra strongholds.

 

Vidarbha is known to have sided with Congress Party during its troubles but the fast decline due to ambitions of leadership provides enough room for each and every party to take a chance and woo the voters. But for that to happen its necessary to strength party's grassroots network and NCP is precisely engaged in the task. Till date Patel, though he hails from Gondia district, had never ever shown interest in city's political landscape. NCP's affairs was entrusted to Anil Deshmukh, current Home Minister, who has been trying hard to build the base. Now it seems, Sharad Pawar, President, NCP, has rolled out his game plan and knows to well that party needs to improve its footprint in Vidarbha seriously. And what better than starting with NMC, the biggest civic body of region, to showcase its intention and gauge the strength and voters response.