BJP extends support to NCP for council poll

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Aug 22 (UNI) In a setback to the Shiv Sena, its alliance partner BJP has announced support to the Nationalist Congress Party candidate Subhash Jhambad, who is contesting the Maharashtra Legislative Council election from Aurangabad Jalna Local Authority Constituency as an independent candidate.

The election would be held tomorrow.

In a statement issued last night, senior BJP leader Haribhau Bagade said the party has decided to support Mr Zambad to ensure defeat of the Congress candidate Abdul Sattar.

Speaking to newspersons here today, he blamed the Shiv Sena MP, P Khaire representing Aurangabad, for the confusion among the alliance partners. Khaire had alleged that some of their leaders were hand in glove with the Congress candidate.

Bagade also challenged Mr Khaire to declare name of the BJP leaders involved in such a conspiracy.' He said the party leadership has not decided on breaking the alliance with the Shiv Sena. ''It is for the Sena to decide whether it wanted to continue an alliance with the BJP, as we are sharing power in a number of civic bodies in Aurangabad and Jalna''.

Out of 465 voters, the Congress has 157, the NCP (95), the Shiv Sena(125), BJP (53), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (2) and independents (33). Though the strength of Jhambad has increased considerably with the BJP support and NCP votes in his kitty, he still faces stiff competition form his rivals sitting MLC Abdul Sattar (Congress) and the Shiv Sena's Kishanchand Tanwani.

Meanwhile, Mr Khaire has claimed that Tanwani stands the chances of winning the election even without the BJP.

UNI