Polls over, race on for CM8217;s post

Mumbai, Sept 15: With just a fortnight left for the outcome of the Assembly elections, a fierce race has already begun among the politica...

Mumbai, Sept 15: With just a fortnight left for the outcome of the Assembly elections, a fierce race has already begun among the political parties for the coveted post of the chief minister.

Though, by and large, almost all opinion polls and surveys have given the verdict in favour of the Sena-BJP alliance, both the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have rejected the findings, saying, it was a well-planned strategy of the Bharatiya Janata Party to tilt the opinion of the electorate in favour of the alliance.

8220;According to my assessment, I do not think the political situation in Maharashtra was favourable for the Sena-BJP alliance. The outcome of the poll surveys conducted by a section of the media, was part of the campaign strategy drafted by the BJP,8221; Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal said.

Chief Minister Narayan Rane, however said irrespective of the outcome of the opinion polls, he was confident of a massive victory for the alliance, owing to the vertical split in theCongress.

8220;In last elections, the alliance had won 137 seats. Now, I am sure, we will get at least 160 seats,8221; Rane added. For the Assembly elections, three surveys were conducted by three independent agencies. While the first survey predicted 156 seats for the alliance, the second and third opinion polls indicated 133 to 148 and 151 to 169 seats respectively.

However, the outcome of the survey conducted by the official intelligence agencies is disappointing for the alliance. According to them, the Sena-BJP will get 120 seats, NCP 90 and the Congress 70.

In the event of the saffron alliance getting a clear majority, then as per the agreement reached between them, the chief minister will be selected from that partner which has more number of legislators.

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8220;If the alliance gets 120 seats as has been predicted by the police, then we are sure that BJP will get more seats. In that case Gopinath Munde will be the new chief minister, while the deputy chief minister will be from the Sena and again thegovernment will be formed with the support of the independents,8221; says a senior BJP leader.

In fact, ever since the declaration of simultaneous polls, BJP was projecting Munde as the next chief minister much to the displeasure of Sena. While an intra-alliance dispute has already begun, NCP as well as Congress leaders categorically stated that the Sena-BJP alliance was not in a position to come to power.

8220;We will form the government. The results will show that the alliance has been outrightly rejected by the electorate,8221; Bhujbal said. Though, Bhujbal, along with Pawar, was the star campaigner for the NCP, he is also facing stiff competition. In the race are former minister Padamsinh Patil, Leader of Opposition Madhukar Pichad and Jayant Patil.

8220;There is no dispute. The new chief minister will be decided by the new legislators and alliance partners,8221; Bhujbal added.

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According to a senior Congress leader, after the results are declared, there will be reorganisation in political parties.

8220;Now, forobvious political reasons, there is remote possibility of an alliance between BJP and NCP. However, if the Congress gets 100 seats and NCP secures 60 seats, then there will be vertical split in one of the parties for forming the new government,8221; the Congress leader added.