Rane proves his mettle, wins both seats for Congress

Mumbai, Dec 7: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane proved his mettle as he succeeded in getting two of his supporters elected on Congress ticket in the by-elections in Chimur and Daryapur constituencies.

The two by-elections were due as the sitting Sena legislators from both the constituencies resigned from their seats and joined the Congress.

So far, eight Shiv Sena MLAs including Mr Rane resigned from Sena and joined Congress in the last one year and all were given the Congress candidature in the by-election. Baring one seat of Shrivardhan, Rane succeeded in winning all the seven seats for Congress.

Shiv Sena had won Srivardhan seat in an alliance with Peasants and Workers Party (PWP). Shiv Sena extended its support to PWP leader Jayant Patil in legislative council elections in lieu of their support.

With these results, the strength of Congress has reached 75 while Shiv Sena has decreased to 56. The strength of other parties is as follows NCP 71, BJP 54, Jansurajya Shakti party 4, CPI 3 (M), PWP 2, BRP BMS 1, RPI(A) 1, Swatantra Bharat Party 1, Akhil Bharatiya Sena 1, Ind 19.

In Daryapur, Prakash Bharsakale is reported to be the oldest and seniormost Sena MLA as he has been winning from this seat since 1990. He had revolted earlier in December 1991 with the then Sena leader and now PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal but later switched over to Sena. He was one among the ten MLAs who supported Rane openly.

Bharsakale won the Daryapur assembly seat by a margin of nearly 4,000 votes to his nearest rival Shiv Sena candidate Balasaheb Hinganikar.

According to official sources, Bharsakale polled 45,908 votes while Hinganikar polled 41,042 votes.

Chimur seat had created a rift between Shiv Sena and BJP. BJP claimed that it has three MLAs and one MP from this area and with Wadettiwar joining Congress, most of the Shiv Sainiks from that area have also joined Congress.

Shiv Sena firmly denied their claim and later relented when senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde personally called Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray at his residence Matoshri.

Congress candidate Vijay Wadettiwar has won the Chimur seat in the by-elections. He polled 73,832 while his nearest rival BJP candidate Dr Ramesh Gajbe polled 54,088 votes.

The outcome of these two by-elections has increased the importance of Rane in Congress. Now, the total strength of Congress and NCP is 146 in the house of 288 out of which Congress has got the share of 75.

This was for the first time that two Rane supporters from Vidarbha have resigned from the assembly and got re-elected. So far, only the Sena legislators from Konkan and Mumbai had resigned and got re-elected on Congress ticket.

UNI