Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypoll: Congress, NCP fail to reach consensus on candidate

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) could not reach a consensus on whose candidate will contest from Maharashtra’s Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituency where by elections will be held on May 28.

The Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole from the post and the party to return to the Congress.

Patole, who defeated NCP heavyweight Praful Patel in the 2014 general elections, quit the BJP over the “authoritarian” style of functioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both the Congress and the NCP were keen on contesting the bye-election and the final decision in this matter is expected to be taken after May 3.

“Both the parties are keen on contesting the bypoll. There is no consensus on it yet. We will discuss it with NCP leaders after four days,” PTI quoted a Congress insider as saying.

The party which will contest the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypoll on May 28, would be more likely to field its candidate to the seat in the Lok Sabha elections next year, the source said.

“Talks to form an alliance are on, but the final decision in this regard will be taken by the central leaderships of the two parties,” the leader said.

Besides the Bhandara-Gondia seat, the Election Commission had on April 26 announced the schedule for bypolls in Palghar (Maharashtra), Kairana (Uttar Pradesh) and Nagaland.

(With inputs from agencies)