Nagpur: With the bugle for NMC poll sounded, political parties got busy in drawing their winning strategies to rule the civic body. Even though the picture is hazy, according to sources, Lokmanch has decided to shake hands with Congress and fight the election in alliance with the major political party.
Babbi Bawa, leader of 5-Corporator Lokmanch, has strongly claimed striking alliance with Congress. However, no meeting between the two parties regarding seat-sharing has so far taken place. Recently when the MPCC President Ashok Chavan was in city, the Lokmanch chief Atal Bahadur Singh had a telephonic talk with him. Lokmanch has demanded 12 seats, sources said. At present, the group has five Corporators in NMC.
In the last election, Lokmanch was in fray in alliance with Congress and even fought on the symbol of the major political party. The group had fielded its candidates in seven seats and won five. Atal Bahadur Singh is known as an ace strategist.
But due to illness he not active in politics but manages the affairs from behind the scenes. He is regarded as “king maker” in NMC. Atal Bahadur Singh was Mayor twice in 1980s. In the 2012 NMC election, he had struck alliance with Congress while the Lokmanch was with BJP in 2002 and 2007 elections.
