MPCC relents on the numbers game

The Congress appeared to have gone on the backfoot on Thursday,when Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakre said that his party would share seats “based on grassroots reality and the elective merit of candidates” rather than on numbers. Thakre had earlier insisted that his party would not compromise on the 2004 formula — of the Congress getting 27 out of the 48 seats—when the NCP demanded an equal share of seats. He further said that a broader understanding had been reached between the Congress and the NCP on 43 seats. “By March 15 or 16,we’ll release our first list of candidates,” he said.