Notwithstanding the euphoria over the success of his party in the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and the talk of going solo that preceded it, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said the party could not have reached the magic figure of 145 if it had contested on its own. He also hinted that young, first-time MLAs like President Pratibha Patil's son Rajendra Shekhawat could become ministers in the new government.

“We could have done better if we had contested the elections on our own and won 100 to 125 seats, but could not have reached the magic figure of 145 for clear majority,” Thakre told The Indian Express on Monday. “We would have been required to seek the support of other secular parties and Independents.”

He said the alliance with the NCP was formed after due thought to the party’s strength in each of the 288 constituencies. “For coming to power on your own, you need to have a strong base and a network of workers in each constituency. After I took over (as the MPCC chief) there was insufficient time at my disposal to prepare the party in all seats.”

A section of the Maharashtra Congress, led by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, had called for the party to go it alone in the state but the central leadership refused to heed them and decided to continue the alliance with the NCP.

Thakre said although he would continue to strengthen the party organisation across the state, he would ensure the Congress-NCP harmony is not hurt in the latter's strongholds.

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