Palus by-poll: Sena to back Cong nominee

The Congress and the BJP are making a desperate bid to retain the Palghar Lok Sabha and the Palus-Kadegaon Assembly seat, respectively.

The BJP’s desperation increased on Thursday as the Sena has extended its support to Congress candidate Vishwajeet Kadam in the Palus-Kadegaon assembly by-election, on the plea that it would be a true tribute to the late senior Congress leader Dr Patangrao Kadam.

The Palghar seat fell vacant after the demise of Chintaman Vanga, sitting Member of Parliament of the BJP. For CM Devendra Fadnavis, Palghar is a prestige issue and

accordingly feelers have been sent to the Sena and the Congress to withdraw their candidates and allow the BJP nominee to win unopposed. In a quid pro quo, the BJP is ready to withdraw its candidate from Palus-Kadegaon, so that the Congress candidate Vishwajeet Kadam can be elected unopposed.

The by-polls are scheduled for May 28 and the BJP and the Congress might have arrived at an understanding but for the Sena which is hellbent on playing the spoiler. Moreover, with the Sena assuring it of support in the assembly by-poll, the Congress is more than determined to contest the Palghar Lok Sabha election.

Since the BJP may find Palghar a tough nut to crack with Sena hijacking the seat and giving a ticket to the son of the deceased BJP parliamentarian Chintaman Vanga, the Congress has every reason to be pleased and in no mood to accommodate the Chief Minister.

Fadnavis has further diminished his position by suggesting that if a seat falls vacant due to the death of a sitting member, all political parties should support the kin of the late member and help him getting elected unopposed. “This is the culture and the Sena should withdraw its candidate,” Fadnavis appealed. But Shiv Sena is not inclined to play along, it wants to give the BJP a scare in Palghar so that the latter comes down to earth. But, if Fadnavis’ gambit succeeds, then the Palghar and Palus by-polls may witness unopposed victory of the candidates.