CM race improves stock of 19 Independents

On Sunday evening, state presidents of both the parties, Prabha Rau (Congress) and R.R. Patil (NCP) claimed that they had support of most of the 19 Independents.

Rau said her party had support of three elected members of CPI(M) and three independents — Harshvardhan Patil, Hitendra Thakur and Sanjay Deshmukh. All of them were Congress’ pre-poll allies, she claimed adding that the tally of the Congress camp had reached 75.

On the other hand, NCP claimed its strength was 74 with the support of lone RPI (A) legislator Pappu Kalani and former state NCP president Babanrao Pachpute, who was elected as an Independent.

Meanwhile, chief ministerial aspirants in the NCP camp have begun lobbying among the legislators. A meeting of the newly elected NCP legislators has been called at the party headquarters at Nariman Point on Monday noon. Three observers — Praful Patel, Tariq Anwar and D.P. Tripathi — will initiate the process for electing the leader of NCP Legislature Party. The leader will be the next chief minister in case the Congress agrees to NCP’s demand for chief ministership.

Two of the frontrunners — state president R.R. Patil and Pawar’s nephew Ajit — were busy winning over Independents who may play a role in the showdown with Congress.

Other aspirants, Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Finance Minister Jayant Patil were closetted in meetings with their close confidants.