Cong meet for council by-election

MUMBAI: Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikaro Thakare will address a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Wednesday to ensure the victory of party nominee Madhu Jain for the legislative council by-election on Thursday. She is being opposed by Suresh Haware, an Independent backed by the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.
The Congress is taking extra precautions in view of the possibility of cross- voting.Thakare has already written to NCP state president Arun Gujarthi seeking his party���s support for Jain. Jain is from Jalgaon and related to rebel NCP leader Suresh Jain. Madhu Jain���s husband, Ramesh Jain, is Jalgaon Municipal Council president and supports the Khandesh Vikas Aghadi set up by Suresh Jain. The NCP is obviously upset since the Aghadi had opposed it in the recent Jalgaon civic polls.