19 February,2009 03:09 PM IST | | PTI
As the Congress and the NCP are engaged in seat-sharing talks in Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has expressed the hope that both parties would put up a united front to defeat "communal" forces.
"Negotiations on seat-sharing are on and we are yet to reach a conclusion. I hope that we forge an alliance and succeed in defeating communal parties," Chavan said after inaugurating Mumbai Moments 2009 Photo Journalism Awards function in south Mumbai on Wednesday.
Stating that the party has made its stand clear on seat sharing, Chavan said, "Congress should contest those seats where it has more chances of winning. Similar policy should be adopted by NCP as well. If the NCP has any suggestions, we will look into them seriously," Chavan said, adding "division of votes can be averted if secular parties join hands."
Maharashtra has 48 Parliamentary seats, the second highest in the country. In 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had contested 22 seats.
