MNS and not Shiv Sena is Congress rival in Kalyan-Dombivali: Narayan Rane

Maharashtra revenue minister Narayan Rane today said Raj Thackeray-led MNS and not Shiv Sena was its main rival in the October 31 Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections.

Addressing a press conference to release the first list of 38 candidates, Rane who is the election-in charge, claimed that the Sena, which is currently in power in the civic body, would finish third at the elections.

"Sena influence in Mumbai and Thane districts is waning. Our rival here is MNS," he said.

Congress is contesting 55 and coalition partner NCP will field candidates in 52 wards for the 107 member municipal body, situated on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Rane said better civic amenities and effective infrastructure would be the focus point of the Congress-NCP campaign. He said the two coalition partners would issue a joint manifesto. Rane accused the Sena of neglecting the Kalyan-Dombivali towns.

He denied that his party had announced the first list of only 38 candidates because there was still dispute over certain seats. "We intend to make announcement in phases. The second list will be announced in a day or two. There is no dispute over any matter," he said.

When asked if KDMC was a "litmus test" for the Congress ahead of the crucial Mumbai and Thane civic polls slated early 2011, Rane said all the three civic bodies were very different. "I do not think the KDMC polls will have any repercussions on the Mumbai civic elections," he added.

Meanwhile, Rane said the state government has prepared a policy on sand mining which will be placed before the cabinet next week.

"It would then be submitted before the court," he added.

Defending his decision to regularise the Lavasa project near Pune by charging fine from the developers, Rane ruled out meeting social activist Anna Hazare over the issue.

"The government cannot discuss each policy with every individual," he added.