Mumbai: Congress ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has said it will support the former’s candidate, former MLA Dilip Mane, in the bypoll to the Legislative Council on December 7. The seat was left vacant after Congress rebel Narayan Rane resigned to form his own party. The BJP is yet to announce its candidate.
The otherwise routine election turned interesting with the Congress call to other parties for a united front against the BJP. The party also indicated it would seek to bring disgruntled BJP ally Shiv Sena on board. The developments had senior BJP ministers meeting Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday.
On Sunday, senior Congress leaders met at Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil’s city residence to decide on the bypoll candidate. Mr. Rane contesting on a BJP ticket was also discussed, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan said. However, sources close to Mr. Rane have already said he wouldn’t be contesting.
Mr. Chavan said several names were discussed. “A final decision will be taken by the AICC. We have suggested our candidate.” he said, without naming names. Sources in the Congress said Mr. Mane has been chosen as the party candidate. “The State committee cannot announce the name till it gets the green signal Delhi,” a party leader said.
NCP clear on support
Senior NCP leader and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has already said his party will unconditionally support the Congress candidate. In an all-party meeting during the Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session, Mr. Pawar had proposed that all Opposition parties support a single candidate against the BJP’s nominee, if the latter poaches leaders from other parties.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State unit chief Raosaheb Danve will be meeting late on Sunday to decide on the BJP candidate. Party spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, leaders Shaina NC and Prasad Lad are said to be among the top contenders.
The BJP has 122 MLAs, the Sena 63, Congress 42, NCP 41 and others 20 in the 288-member Assembly, which will elect the new MLC. A unified Opposition with Sena support could spell trouble for the BJP.
