The Hindu Business Line : Congress-NCP combine set for another term

THE ruling Congress-NCP combine seems all set to retain power in Maharashtra. The combine has clinched 139 seats in the 2004 State assembly elections, falling six short of the magic number of 145. This, even as informal pre-poll alliances indicate that it has another five seats as good as sewn up in the form of three seats from the CPI(M) and two independents.

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance bagged 118 seats, down eight seats from 126 in the 1999 Assembly polls, with seven losers coming from the Shiv Sena and one from the BJP. On the other hand, a 13-seat gain by the NCP wiped out the loss of seven seats suffered by the Congress vis-a-vis its previous Assembly strength. The other seat for the ruling alliance came from RPI-A. The NCP won 71 seats, Congress 68 and RPI-A one, while the Shiv Sena won 62 seats, BJP had 55 and STBP one. Among the other parties to corner seats were JSS (4), CPI (M) (3), PWPI (2), BBM (1) and ABHS (1).

Just as the Congress-NCP combine fell tantalisingly short of a majority, the independents who cornered as many as 20 seats emerged as a major force, with many of them being rebel candidates of both the ruling and opposition fronts. Among the key winners were the Chief Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, the former Chief Minister, Mr Narayan Rane and the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil. Those who lost included Mr Raj Shroff, son-in-law of the Chief Minister and Pankaj Bhujbal, son of former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chhagan Bhujbal, who retained his seat.

Captains of trade and industry expressed happiness over the possibility of the State getting a stable Government. What is also encouraging is that the State would have the same political dispensation in power as at the Centre, it was felt. "Most important is the continuity of policy. Some other States such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are facing problems with changed governments. Mumbai did not get its due in the past when there was a different party in power at the Centre. It is for the State Government to press for the cause of Mumbai," said Mr Anil Singhvi, Director, Gujarat Ambuja Cement.

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