NCP to field its candidate in biennial Legislative Council polls

Mumbai, May 26 (UNI) With the Congress having rejected the two suggestions given by NCP regarding the legislative council and Rajya Sabha elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader R R Patil today said his party has decided to field its candidate in biennial legislative council elections.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Patil said the NCP had suggested that Congress should contest the Rajya Sabha seat which fell vacant after the demise of Pramod Mahajan and give the additional seat in the Council to NCP.

He further said that NCP had also given another suggestion that Congress should allow Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Jayant Patil to get elected unoppsed since he is the leader of a Leftist party and the Leftists are supporting the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

''As the Congress refused both the formulae, NCP has finally decided to field their candidate in council election,'' he added.

Yesterday, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Prabha Rau told reporters, ''We have decided to field fourth candidate Rajan Teli after we found that NCP, which was earlier thinking of supporting PWP candidate, field their fourth candidate Vasant Oswal at 1400 hrs -- one hour before the end of the timing for filing the nominations on May 22 and later Mr Teli filed his nomination papers at 1445 hrs.'' When his attention was drawn to Ms Rau's statement that there was no connection of Rajya Sabha and Council elections, Mr Patil said in this situation NCP would have to rethink of contesting the Rajya Sabha election.

He also clarified that so far there was no discussion of giving the Rajya Sabha seat of late Mahajan to his wife Rekha or son Rahul.

Mr Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the meetings between Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Gopinath Munde are bound to take place since both are national level leaders.

When his attention was drawn towards the statement made by NCP MLA Shalinitai Patil about revoking reservation, he said much importance should not be given to her statements. However, he admitted that the high command has taken a serious note of her statements about Dr B R Ambedkar.

Mr Patil said in combat operation against naxalites, the number of naxals killed in operations was more, but their associates took away their bodies.

When asked whether former police officer Y P Singh would be taken in services, Mr Patil said legal points will be considered on this issue.

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