Cong-NCP will get absolute majority, claims Rane

The Congress-NCP alliance will emerge victorious winning 155-160 seats in the October 13 Assembly polls, Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane claimed today.

The Congress-NCP alliance will emerge victorious winning 155-160 seats in the October 13 Assembly polls, Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane claimed on Thursday.

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"The combined opposition has no agenda and was indulging in levelling baseless charges of corruption against the incumbant government," Rane, a former Chief Minister, told a press conference in Nagpur. He said the saffron combine election manifesto was a bundle of lies and has failed to convince the people of state.

Rane who was on a whirlwind election tour of the region said the combined opposition may not cross 70-80 seats.

On the controversy raised by Sena over installation of statue of Shivaji in Arabian sea, Rane said it was an unnecessary controvery since Shivaji was like a god for people of Maharashtra.

Sena was capitalising name of King Shivaji all these years, then they had no problem. The memorial will also be a tourist spot and attract foreign tourists also, he added.

To a question, Rane said may be 25-30 independents may get elected like 1995 elections. Rane evaded replies to as who will be the Chief Minister or whether he was in the race again.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi will decide all such issues," Rane said.