‘All in family,no more differences with Dutt’

“Things have been sorted out. There is no need to make this a big issue. Sometimes,there are differences in a family also,” Singh told reporters.

Regarding MP Sanjay Nirupam’s allegation that due weightage was not given to senior party leaders while deciding candidates,Singh said, “It is not my decision but the party’s. I am not a dictator and the committee decides seat allocation.”

On former general secretary of Mumbai Congress Ajit Sawant’s allegation that party tickets were being sold by Singh,he said. “These are not movie tickets or cricket tickets that I can sell.”

Regarding the presence of Maharashtrians,Singh said 81 of the total candidates being fielded by the Congress-NCP alliance are Maharashtrians.

He said all parties could sit together and discuss a solution to the High Court’s refusal to allow any party to conduct rallies at Shivaji Park ahead of the BMC elections. “All parties should act in unity on this issue and we all can go to the chief minister to get this issue resolved. Considering that political rallies are an important part of elections,we should find some solution quickly.”

Asked about the constant attacks against him by the Shiv Sena,he said,“Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna keeps targeting me personally but that is because they want to divert the real issues of Mumbai and their failure on so many promises.”

On whether he is a contender for the chief minister’s seat,he said,“If one thinks that I will make a good chief minister,I am thankful for that.”

NCP leader alleges apathy,joins BJP

NCP consumer protection committee general secretary Ravindra Malvankar joined the BJP on Saturday,citing apathy from the party ministers to his complaints about redevelopment of his locality. A resident of Parel-Bhoiwada,Malvankar said his house in the Old Gaothan was being demolished by BMC officials along with several others under police protection. He said he had repeatedly written to Home Minister R R Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar regarding the problem,but did not get any response. “If the NCP does not listen and address the complaint of its own party worker,what are they going to do for citizens?” asked BJP Mumbai president Raj Purohit,who welcomed Malvankar into the party.

Sena to kick off campaign today

The Shiv Sena will begin its campaign for civic elections on Sunday with two rallies by party executive president Uddhav Thackeray — in Mankhurd and Sion Koliwadaand — in Mumbai and a road show by Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray in Pune. Party chief Bal Thackeray will be addressing two rallies — in Thane on February 11 and BKC on February 13.