NCP, Sanghatana for greater cooperation

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, MAY 24.The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) favours the total merger of the Sharad Joshi-led Shetkari Sanghatana or its political arm, the Swatantra Bharat Paksh and does not want a section of that party to join it.

A move has been initiated to get together the NCP and the Shetkari Sanghatana for a day-long discussion on June 5 at Baramati to work out modalities for greater cooperation.

The NCP today announced the postponement of the rally at Nanded, scheduled for May 26, where several leaders of the SBP and the Sanghatana, including its current President, Mr. Shankarrao Dhondge, were to join the NCP.

A fresh date would be fixed after the Baramati deliberations, NCP sources said.

However, the NCP favours a total merger of the two entities or greater cooperation between them to ``strengthen the farmers movement''.

The NCP is keen that the Swatantra Bharat Paksh and the Sanghatana should come closer in Vidarbha region.

The NCP feels that sections of the Sanghatana or SBP merging with it, but without Mr. Sharad Joshi, has no meaning. But those who want to join the NCP have been speaking of how the farmers' organisation and the political party floated by it have lost their relevance.

Sources in the Sanghatana, however, point out that contrary to the NCP claim that they are hosting the joint meeting of the two parties, it was a meeting between the executives of the NCP and the Sanghatana.

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