KVA to contest assembly elections: Ranjit Deshmukh

Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) Rebel Congress leader Ranjit Deshmukh today said his Kisan Vikas Aghadi (KVA) will transform into a ''political platform'' and contest all 66 assembly seats from Vidarbha in the next elections.

Mr Deshmukh had contested the Ramtek Lok Sabha by-election unsuccessfuly, but his presence in the fray had helped Shiv Sena retain the seat. Mr Deshmukh, however, said the outcome of the Ramtek by-election would have been quite different, had there been no Jalgaon and Erandol by-elections at the same time.

''I had the support of other parties and was sure to win. But, because of the political manipulations owing to the simultaneous Jalgaon and Erandol Lok Sabha by-elections, I lost,'' he claimed.

Mr Deshmukh claimed the Shiv Sena had offered to allow him to contest the elections on its symbol. But, since he is a proponent of a separate Vidarbha state, to which the Sena is opposed, he had declined the offer urging the Sena to support him as an independent candidate.

Recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's initiative in framing anti-defection law, Mr Deshmukh said the law has become a mockery as elected representatives now resign after working out a deal and, then, get reelected.

''I am of the view that if any elected representative resigns from the House without any valid reason and recontests, then the expense of the entire by-election should be recoverd from him,'' Mr Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, Mr Deshmukh said power from the generating stations in Vidarbha, should be used to meet the needs of the region first before supplying the rest of Maharashtra.

UNI