March 27, 2010 1:18:19 am
After NCPs Vandana Chavan sailed though unopposed in the Legislative Council bypoll from Pune local body constituency,necessitated by former MLC Laxman Jagtap winning Chinchwad in the last Assembly polls,all eyes are now on the Konkan bypoll,results of which are expected on Sunday.
In the Konkan local body constituency,Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) Anil Tatkare,who is Finance Minister Sunil Tatkares brother, is pitted against Shiv Sena candidate Umesh Shetye,besides NCP rebel Manikrao Jagtap.
In spite of speculation that local Congressmen were not happy with Anils candidature,as he had contested against Ravisheth Patil of the Congress in the Assembly poll from Pen and they had been blaming Anil for the loss of the seat to the Peasants and Workers Party,the NCP is confident of victory.
There is no question of Anil being defeated, NCP spokesperson Madan Bafna said. He has enough support. Local Congressmen are supporting him. Ajit Pawar,said to be close to the Tatkares,has been making efforts to ensure Anil wins. Congress minister Narayan Rane had also pitched in to ensure Anils victory,said Bafna.
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Jagtap,on the other hand,has also been banking on the support of the Congress.
The former Mahad MLA,who was defeated in the last Assembly polls,had entered the bypoll questioning the propriety of Anils nomination saying he had been suspended by the NCP for contesting against ally Congress but the suspension had been revoked ahead of the by-election.
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