Congress-NCP tug of war

It will be a direct fight between Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the by-election for ward no. 48 of Vashi. While Congress has fielded Suresh Shinde, NCP has named Rohini Shinde- wife of deceased corporator Ramesh Shinde for the bypolls. The elections will take place on March 23.
The bypolls have been necessitated the demise of Ramesh Shinde, who passed away in November. Navi Mumbai Shiv Sena has backed Congress candidate for the elections. Though Congress and NCP are partners in the state government, in Navi Mumbai; there is no such alliance at civic body level. Here, NCP enjoys complete majority and Congress occupies opposition benches.
The city Congress has many times tried to corner ruling NCP over various projects by lodging complaints with the CM and bringing a stay on the projects. Recently, Navi Mumbai Congress resolved not to help or work for NCP during the coming Lok Sabha polls and sent the resolution to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
Meanwhile, Sena, which is aiming at regaining its domination in the region has extended support to congress candidate Shinde. According to sources in Sena, "They are supporting Congress candidate because they do not want the NCP candidate to win elections."
Navi Mumbai is a stronghold of NCP leader Ganesh Naik, who also happens to be the guardian minister of Thane district. NCP circles are confident that Rohini Shinde will emerge victorious. "The work done by Ramesh Shinde in this ward is before people. They know the kind of work done and we are confident that people will vote for NCP again this time," said a NCP leader, campaigning for Shinde.