Pune: The NCP have started alliance talks for upcoming State assembly polls. Opposition party leader and senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “We have discussed with the NCP about the alliance during a recent meeting. Now, we will speak to other parties about joining our grand alliance.” 

He was here to attend the prize distribution function of late VS Joglekar essay competition of Patrakar Pratisthan on Wednesday. 

Speaking to the media, Vikhe said, “We are trying to include other parties in the alliance. We are talking to BSP. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is puppet of BJP. There is a report that Bharatiya Republican Bahujan Mahasangh (BRBM)  is in alliance with MIM. I don’t know the logic behind that. However, i have decided to talk to Prakash Ambedkar and convince them to join our alliance.” 

Vikhe-Patil alleged, “The State government has started crop insurance scheme for farmers in drought, flood and hailstorms. However, Reliance Insurance company is getting benefit from the scheme. The State government is paying Rs 4,000 crore premium to Reliance. However, only Rs 1,600 crore has been distributed till date. The company has got Rs 2,000 crore benefit from scheme. We have not understood whether the scheme is for farmers or Reliance.”

He said, “Legislators and ministers are taking action against farmers. They are not implementing schemes. There is vertical divide in urban and rural part of the city. Farmers are coming on roads.”