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.

The NCP had lost Shrirur and Maval Lok Sabha seats and managed to retain Baramati.

However, the main concern for the party in the home district of party chief Sharad Pawar is that it has lagged behind in 12 of the 21 Assembly segments, including the one represented by State Finance Minister Dilip Walse-Patil.

On the other hand, the Congress had won the Pune Lok Sabha seat. It has demanded the local NCP unit to sever ties with the saffron allies in the PMC or go separately. “The Congress will go all alone in the Assembly polls if the NCP fails to break ties with the saffron parties in the civic body,” Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi had said.