Digvijay to woo rebels

AICC general secretary has a delicate but crucial task in hand over the next few days ? to woo rebels to back Cong-NCP should the combine fall short of a simple majority, reports Saroj Nagi.

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh has a delicate but crucial task in hand over the next few days — to woo rebels to back the Congress-NCP should the combine fall short of a simple majority in Maharashtra.

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The party claims that it is confident of the combine's victory. But Singh has been busy over the last 10 days trying to keep a channel of communication open with the rebels who could play a decisive role in a tightly contested election. According to sources, there are over 140 Congress rebels in the fray. The NCP has about 40.

Singh's initial task was to persuade party rebels to withdraw in favour of the official candidates. But since they are still in the fray, sources say that he is now trying to ensure that rebels return to the party fold.

A core team drawn from among the state leadership is reportedly assisting him in contacting them.

According to an internal assessment, there will be a difference of just about 10-15 seats between the BJP-Sena combine and the Congress-NCP. By this account, the latter would get about 135 seats in the 288 member assembly while the Opposition may get about 125. If this assessment is borne out, the Congress might need the support of about 10-odd legislators and the rival camp of about 20 or so.

Asked whether the Congress will seek the support of rebels in the post-poll scenario, Singh told reporters in Mumbai that the "anti-defection law prohibits it. But politics is an art of the impossible."