Four independents join Congress in Maharashtra

Ahead of assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Congress Wednesday got a boost when four independent legislators and their supporters joined the party here.

The legislators were Vasant Chavan, Shirish Chaudhary, Suresh Jethaliya and Jaykumar Gore.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan welcomed them into the Congress and expressed confidence that the Congress-led alliance would win for a fourth consecutive term.

"We witnessed unexpected results in the Lok Sabha election. People have now realised the folly. We hope the Congress-led alliance will get the full support of the people for a fourth time," he said.

Chavan admitted that Congress workers in the state were a bit stunned after the Lok Sabha verdict but now there was renewed confidence in the rank and file.

"In the past five years, we gave a new direction to Maharashtra. Whether it was the policy initiatives of our government or the Congress-led government at the centre, our work could be seen," Chavan said.

He said the masses would support 'lokshahi' (democracy) and not 'thokshahi' (dictatorship) and that the Congress believed in peace and the well-being of everybody.

Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled later this year.

State Congress president Manikrao Thakre said that in the past 15 years of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party rule, "the people of the state have seen our work, and we are confident of their support".

Thakre said the newcomers would be given ticket to contest the election.

He said more political leaders were likely to join the Congress in the coming days.