Member of Legislative Council polls: Congress firm on contesting Yavatmal seat

YAVATMAL: Despite talks for a pre-poll alliance going on at the high command level in Mumbai, Congress has resolved to contest the MLC election from Yavatmal seat. The MLC election will be held in December. At present the seat is held by Nationalist Congress Party’s Sandeep Bajoria.
Speaking to TOI on Thursday, newly elected Yavatmal District Congress Committee president Wamanrao Kasawar said, “Seven aspirants were interviewed by MPCC president Ashok Chavan in Nanded on October 1.Former MPCC president Manikrao Thakre, ex-minister Shivajirao Moghe, ex-MLAs Vasant Purke and Vijay Khadse and me were present during the interview process. A final decision on candidates selection will be taken on October 13.”
Kasawar claimed that Congress and its alliance parties have a strength of 200 voters out of 434 voters. Hence it is his party’s legitimate claim as the votes needed for a victory is 218 and the Congress candidate needs to muster just 18 votes more. The break-up of the voters is: Zilla parishad (62), municipal councils (218), nagar panchayats (102), panchayat samiti chairmen (16) and co-opted members (36).
There are 11 council seats in the state which will fall vacant in December. Barring five of them — Graduates’ Constituency (2) and Teachers’ Constituency (3) — six seats are to be fought between the parties. “We have demanded three seats of the six and the remaining three would be given to NCP if the talk on alliance becomes fruitful,” said Kasawar, adding, “NCP is reluctant to accept our demand.”