Cong-NCP battle of supremacy peaks with June 15 RS bypoll

Mumbai, Jun 13 (UNI) Congress is engaged in a last ditch effort to persuade its ally NCP to back its candidate Avinash Pande for the June 15 Rajya Sabha by-election neccessitated following the death of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.

According to party sources, Congress leadership in Delhi is in talks with its ally to either abstain from voting or to reconsider its support for independent candidate Rahul Bajaj. NCP President and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had arrived in Delhi on Saturday from the US.

If the numbers are seen, Mr Bajaj, ''who owns the two'' wheeler giant Bajaj Auto, is all set to have a smooth sailing, thus making it to the Lok Sabha by an overwhelming majority. He is supported by the NCP which has 71 members, BJP has 54 and Shiv Sena has 58 MLAs.

There are 19 independents who do not come under the purview of open ballot voting which will be done for the first time in Maharashtra.

Congress has 73 MLAs.

Congress sources said even though the writing is clear on the wall about the defeat looming large, the party is adhering to the principles of the well defined traditions of the Congress.

Meanwhile, separate legislature party meetings will be held tommorrow in Mumbai.

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