Rebels in council polls fray test Congress, NCP alliance

The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have announced their alliance for the state Legislature Council election, but rebels from both parties will contest against each other in Mumbai and Ahmednagar.

The election for eight posts in seven local body constituencies of the state Legislature Council will be held on December 27 and Wednesday was the last day to submit nominations.

In Mumbai, NCP rebel Prasad Lad will contest against Congress’ official and NCP-supported candidate Bhai Jagtap. Mr Lad has filed his nomination as an independent. In Ahmednagar, former Congress MLA Jayant Sasane has filed his nomination against NCP’s official candidate Arunkaka Jagtap. Shashikant Gade is Shiv Sena’s candidate in Ahmednagar — who is said to be weak.

MPCC president Ashok Chavan said the issues would be sorted out before the last date of withdrawal of nomination. “I am aware that rebels have filed nominations in Ahmednagar and Mumbai. But we will resolve the issue as Congress and NCP are contesting the election together,” said Mr Chavan.

Sunil Tatkare, NCP state president, said that he would not encourage Mr Lad’s nomination, as he is not the party’s official candidate.

“Mr Lad is not the official candidate and we will take it seriously. On the other hand, we will also seek information on whether the Congress has given the ‘AB’ form to Sasane in Ahmednagar,” Mr Tatkare said.

According to a Congress source, independent Arunkaka Jagtap won the previous election with support from Congress strongman and former minister Balasaheb Thorat whose 40 votes were given in favour of Mr Jagtap. “Now the political scenario has changed and Mr Thorat will probably support rebel Mr Sasane,” the leader claimed.

Meanwhile, the BJP announced support to independent candidates in Kolhapur and Solapur as the party did not have strong candidates to contest against Congress and NCP respectively.

Congress’ outgoing MLC Rajendra Mulak from Nagpur has been replaced with Sanjay Mahakalkar as the former was not interested in contesting, said senior Congress leader Chandrakant Chhajed.

According to another Congress leader, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan asked Mr Mulak not to contest for the MLC post, and instead to focus on Assembly constituency for the 2019 poll. Ashok Chavan tried to convince Mr Mulak to contest the MLC election but he refused. So the Congress has given candidature to Mr Mahakalkar against BJP’s Girish Vyas.

In Dhule-Nandurbar, BJP’s Gopal Kele will fight against Congress’ Amarish Patel.

Congress’ former three-time legislator Mahadev Mahadik is contesting independently and the BJP has announced its support to him.

BJP will also support Prashant Paricharak, an independent, in Solapur constituency. Shiv Sena’s outgoing legislator Gopikishan Bajoria will contest in the Akola constituency.