Even as it is celebrating the 10th anniversary, the Nationalist Congress Party has little to cheer. After receiving a drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections, followed by a clamour from Congressmen to go solo in the Assembly elections, the NCP had another embarrassment when its leader Padamsinh Patil was arrested by the CBI in connection with a murder case.

The NCP is hard-pressed to inject enthusiasm into its sulking cadres. In Pune too, the scenario is no different. The party is staring at a bleak scenario ahead of the Assembly polls. It had won only one out of three Lok Sabha seats in Pune and the Congress is openly threatening to sever the ties.

“The state unit has directed us to launch an extensive drive for registering new members.We will also organise various programme at the local level in the next five days to mark the anniversary of the party,” city chief Jaideo Gaikwad said.

“The city unit has asked all the party office-bearers and elected representatives to hold programmes in each ward to reach out to maximum citizens,” he said and added that it has nothing to do with the forthcoming elections, but a regular effort to expand the party base.

To mark the day, the party invited personalities from across the city for a small gathering at party office on Tilak Road. All the party corporators and legislators had attended the function, Gaikwad said.

City executive president Anil Bhosale organised a book distribution function for 35,000 students along with the felicitation of Krushnaa Patil, the youngest Maharashtrian to climb Mt Everest. Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, along with his team, attended the function at Balgandharva Rang Mandir.

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