Congress not to contest four Council seats in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan today said his party will not contest the June 25 biennial polls to the Legislative Council, and support the candidates of "like-minded part

Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan today said his party will not contest the June 25 biennial polls to the Legislative Council, and support the candidates of “like-minded parties” instead.

The Congress has extended support to NCP’s Najeeb Mulla for Konkan division graduates seat, Kapil Patil of Loktantrik Janata Dal from the Mumbai teachers constituency, PWP candidate Rajendra Korde for Mumbai graduates seat, and Teachers Democratic Front candidate Sandeep Bedse for the Nashik Teachers seat.

The decision to support “candidates from like-minded parties” was taken to avoid division of secular votes, Chavan said.

The Shiv Sena has fielded Vilas Potnis for Mumbai graduates seat, former Thane Mayor Sanjay More for Konkan graduates seat, Shivaji Shendge for Mumbai teachers seat and Kishore Darade for Nashik teachers seat.

The BJP has so far nominated Anil Kumar Rajesing Deshmukh for Mumbai teachers seat, while for Konkan division graduates seat, Niranjan Davkhare — who resigned from the seat last month and quit the NCP — is the BJP’s nominee.

The term of sitting legislators from these four constituencies is ending on July 7.

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.