Mahayuti to form hybrid alliance for ZP and panchayat polls: Chandrakant Patil

Kolhapur: BJP politician and minister Chandrakant Patil on Sunday said in Kolhapur that NCP got permission to contest zilla parishad (ZP) polls in alliance with NCP (SP), and they can distribute the seats they get in alliance with Mahayuti partners.He said there will be a "hybrid alliance" for ZP and panchayat samiti polls across the state. In some places, there will be a friendly fight, and in some places, there will be an alliance with any partner from Mahayuti. "There is no need for any fortune teller that both NCP and NCP (SP) are going to contest together, but whether it will be forever is beyond my reach to tell. However, for ZP and panchayat samiti polls, they are coming together. They have the permission. They will, however, have to distribute the seats among themselves that Mahayuti will offer. In the municipal corporation elections, they were together; it did not make any difference in the outcome. We approved NCP to contest separately, and they aligned with NCP (SP)," said Patil.Patil held a meeting of Mahayuti politicians to discuss preparations for the upcoming ZP and panchayat samiti polls. For 13 ZPs, the election is taking place on Feb 5, and the counting is on Feb 7. From western Maharashtra, the ZP polls for Solapur, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara will be held."There are 68 seats in the ZPs, and the number required for a majority is 34. We have set a target to win 48-plus seats in all these ZPs. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called the alliances hybrid; in municipal corporation elections, it was followed, and similarly, it will be in the upcoming elections. There may be an alliance between two parties or all the parties, depending on the local situation. But we will ensure that the opposition does not get any advantage because of any of us; that will be kept in mind," said Patil.NCP (SP) politician Samarjeetsinha Ghatge, who left BJP to contest the assembly polls held in 2024, is set to return to BJP. He attended the Mahayuti meeting held to discuss the strategy for the ZP polls. "He returned, but technical entry into BJP is a matter of time. His supporters will be allocated seats for ZP and panchayat samitis; they will contest on BJP tickets, it is decided," said minister Patil.