Nationalist Congress Party

Nationalist Congress Party
Chairperson Sharad Pawar
Founded 1999
Headquarters 10, Bishambhar Das Marg, New Delhi, 110001
Ideology Progressive
Populist
Secular democracy
Gandhian secularism
Equality
Social justice
Federalism
Political position Centre or Centre left
International affiliation None
Official colours Aqua  
Alliance United Progressive Alliance
Election symbol
NCP party symbol
Website
http://www.ncp.org.in
Politics of India
Political parties
Elections

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Marathi: राष्ट्रवादी कॉँग्रेस पक्ष) is an Indian political party based primarily in the state of Maharashtra.

Contents

Background

NCP was formed on 25 May 1999, by Sharad Pawar, P.A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress (INC) on 20 May 1999, for disputing the right of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to lead the party.[1] At the time of formation, the party also absorbed Indian Congress (Socialist), which traced its origins to anti-Gandhi Congress of 1977-78.

P.A. Sangma, however, left the NCP in 2004 (and joined All India Trinamul Congress) over differences with Sharad Pawar on the NCP's closing in with the INC. Owning to its leaders' respective support bases, particularly Sharad Pawar, the NCP has a significant presence in the state of Maharashtra.

The NCP advertises itself as a progressive, secular party that stands for "democracy, Gandhian secularism, equality, social justice, and federalism." It positions itself as a moderate, centrist alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INC. The party's election symbol is an analog clock that reads 10:10.

In the 2004 Indian General Election, which it fought in alliance in Congress, the party won nine seats and 1.8% of the vote. Since 2004, the NCP has been a member of the United Progressive Alliance, which governs the country. The party is also a coalition partner in the state of Maharashtra in alliance with INC.

Political presence

The NCP has made different alliances in different states. At the central Government NCP is a part of UPA led by Congress . In Kerala they have recently enetered back in to LDF led by CPM and in Nagaland they are in alliance with BJP . NCP has members in the following states in India:

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Arunachal Pradesh
  3. Bihar
  4. Chhattisgarh
  5. Goa
  6. Gujarat
  7. Haryana
  8. Himachal Pradesh
  9. Jharkhand
  10. Karnataka
  11. Kerala
  12. Madhya Pradesh
  13. Maharashtra
  14. Manipur
  15. Meghalaya
  16. Odisha
  17. Punjab
  18. Tamil Nadu
  19. Uttar Pradesh

Prominent leaders

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Sangma meets Sonia, first time in a decade The Times of India, 2 June 2009.