Mumbai: Nationalist Congress party (NCP) and Congress finally sealed pact on last day to file nomination for the biennial poll to elect six members of legislative council (MLCs) from the local authority constituency. NCP on Wednesday had announced candidature of Ramesh Karad from Latur-Osmanabad-Beed constituency which had created tension between both the parties.
Congress announced candidature of Indrakumar Balmukund Saraf from Wardha-Gadchiroli-Chandrapur, Anil Madho Gadia from Amravati and Suresh Deshmukh from Parbhani-Hingoli constituency. NCP is fielding Latur-Beed-Osnmanabad, Nasik and Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seats.
Meanwhile, Nawab Malik, vice president of NCP said, Senior leaders of both the Congress party discussed on alliance and took final decision. Ashok Gehlot from Congress and Prafull Patel from NCP were present at the meeting. It was also decided NCP will contest Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha by-poll whereas Congress will contest in Palghar LS by-poll. The candidate for LS by-poll is yet to decided.
NCP has extended its support to by-poll in Palus assembly poll falls vacant due to death of senior Congress leader Patangrao Kadam. Congress has announced name of Vishwajeet, son of Patangrao as party candidate for the by-poll. The voting at Palus will be hold on May 28.
Sena minister Desai reiterates no pact with BJP in 2019 poll
Despite seat sharing for Council elections with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Shiv Sena leader and Industries Minister Subhash Desai has reiterated that there will be no pact for 2019 polls. Desai while speaking with select media persons on Thursday at Mantralaya confirmed that Sena and BJP had come to consensus of not contesting against each other for Council polls for six seats. “We are contesting three out of six seats, whereas BJP has fielded candidates in remaining three seats. It doesn’t mean that we will go into alliance with BJP in 2019 polls for Lok Sabha and state assembly,” Desai said.
He added, “It has been decided by party president Uddhav Thackeray that Sena will go solo in next elections. There will be no change in his decision at any cost.” Uddhav had announced the break-up of the alliance for next polls on January 23, on the occasion of birth anniversary of late Balasaheb Thackeray, Sena supremo.