NCP joins TJAC

In a move that appears to be an endorsement of a separate Vidarbha state, the National Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, became a constituent member of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) which launched a two-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar in support of separate Telangana.
The NCP, led by Union minister and Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar, has earlier expressed its support for separate Telangana but went a step further by joining the TJAC. “With this, one can safely conclude that the NCP will strongly pitch for Vidarbha when campaigning begins in Maharashtra for the 2014 general elections in a few months,” sources said.
The announcement by NCP general secretary DP Tripathi came after a brief meeting with TJAC leaders including its chairman M Kodandaram. Currently, the TJAC has TRS, BJP and New Democracy as its constituent member parties. Inclusion of another national party like the NCP would add to its strength and helps the Telangana voice be heard louder in the national capital,” supporters said.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Monday reiterated its promise of delivering a separate state within 100 days of coming to power at the Centre. Addressing a public gathering at the venue, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Prakash Jawadekar said: “The BJP is committed to the cause of Telangana. We promise that the separate statehood for the region would be announced within 100 days of the NDA government coming to power. For now, we demand that the Centre table a Telangana bill in Parliament and ensure its passage,”