National

Rahul Bajaj likely choice

NCP may join hands with Sena, BJP

NEW DELH/MUMBAI: The Congress was on Sunday night set for a surprise from its alliance partner in Maharashtra and the Centre — the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which appears to have decided to join hands with BJP and Shiv Sena in backing eminent industrialist Rahul Bajaj for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the State. The seat fell vacant following the death of saffron leader Pramod Mahajan.

With Monday being the last date of filing nomination, Mr. Bajaj's name is being talked about as an independent candidate for the June 15 Rajya Sabha poll in what appears to be a shrewd move by Sharad Pawar-led NCP along with the BJP and the Shiv Sena to checkmate the Congress.

Congress' ties with NCP have of late come under strain when an NCP nominee in recent legislative council polls in Maharashtra lost.

``We should try to get a secular candidate elected'', was the refrain of NCP general secretary D.P. Tripathi to questions on the issue after Maharashtra NCP chief Arun Gujarati ruled out support to the Congress nominee. He said Mr. Bajaj is ``modern, secular and democrat.''

Mr. Bajaj told PTI that he would contest as an independent only if there is consensus among all the parties. Shiv Sena spokesman Subhash Desai said in Mumbai that Mr. Bajaj was the choice of NCP-BJP-Shiv Sena and the BJP too is understood to have decided to back the industrialist. The BJP's central election committee is meeting in Delhi on Monday to endorse support to Mr. Bajaj's candidature.

Pressure tactic?

The surprise move to project Mr. Bajaj as an independent candidate is seen as a pressure tactic by Mr. Pawar who is away in London.

Congress sources said AICC general secretary Margaret Alva was making hectic efforts to get in touch with Mr. Pawar. The Congress has zeroed in on Avinash Pandey, former NSUI functionary, as its nominee but a formal announcement is likely to be made only after discussions with Mr. Pawar. — PTI, UNI

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