Deshmukh confident of Congress win in Assembly by-elections

Chimur, Maharashtra, Nov 28 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today expressed confidence that the Congress would win the forthcoming by-elections to the State Legislative Assembly from Chimur (district Chandrapur) and Daryapur (district Amravati) constituencies in Vidarbha.

Addressing an election rally at Circus Ground here this afternoon, Mr Deshmukh said the outcome from Chimur and Daryapur would demonstrate why his party was the people's choice, while referring to Shiv Sena Working President Uddhav Thackeray's statement expressing surprise that people voted for the Congress.

He said the people voted for the Congress because they wanted development and not communal politics.

Reiterating that the funds meant for Vidarbha would not be diverted, Mr Deshmukh said the region needed an assertive and aggressive leader who knew his rights and how to get them fulfilled.

State Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, Animal Husbandary and Fisheries Minister Anees Ahmed and All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Siddharth Patel were among the others who addressed the rally.

The rally was held for Congress nominee Vijay Wadettiwar, contesting the by-election from Chimur. Mr Wadettiwar, a known loyalist of Mr Rane, quit the Shiv Sena and his seat in the Assembly before joining the Congress. The by-election, slated for December 4, has been necessitated by his resignation.

Earlier in the day, Mr Deshmukh addressed an election rally in Anjangao-Surji in Amravati for Congress candidate Prakash Bharsakle, contesting the by-election from Daryapur. Mr Bharsakle is also a Rane loyalist and quit the Shiv Sena and the Assembly to join the Congress.

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