Ex-min Kokate helps NCP win in Sinnar and Nandurbar

Nashik: Former minister Manikrao Kokate played a key role in helping the NCP hold sway not only in his home turf of Sinnar in Nashik, but also in securing two presidential seats in Nandurbar, where he served as guardian minister.NCP presidential candidate Vitthal Ugle, who contested under Kokate's leadership in Sinnar, wrested the office from the Shiv Sena. "NCP opened its account for the first time in Nandurbar by winning the Taloda and Navapur seats. The party has performed well in other places as well," said a senior NCP office-bearer, who wished to remain anonymous. Kokate resigned from the state cabinet last week after being convicted in a cheating case. Bombay high court suspended his two-year sentence and granted him bail, but did not stay the conviction. The opposition has questioned why he has not been disqualified as an MLA following the conviction, noting that such action was taken in the case of Congress leaders.Under Kokate's leadership, the NCP won six of the nine seats it contested in the Nashik division. In Nandurbar, the party secured two seats despite campaigning by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and BJP minister Girish Mahajan.In Navapur, backed by the Shiv Sena, the NCP was pitted against the Congress and the BJP, and wrested control of the council from the Congress, which failed to win a single seat.

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