By-poll results positive, would push seat-deal with NCP: Congress

MUMBAI: Maharashtra unit of Congress today said by-election results from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan today were a morale-booster for the party cadre, and would also lead to speedy finalisation of seats-sharing deal with the NCP for the coming assembly elections in the state.

The seat-sharing talks are currently stuck over NCP's demand of equal number of seats.

Reverses for BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Congress's gains in Gujarat and Rajasthan in today's by-election results had enthused Congress workers in the poll-bound Maharashtra, said state Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil.

"It is a psychological boost. People are upset with the BJP government under Narendra Modi and are in rethinking mode. It will also expedite seat-sharing talks with NCP," he said.

Shiv Sena, which had refused to accept BJP's demand for 135 seats, would now harden its stand, he claimed.

"Today's results are a message to our ally NCP that people want us to unite and keep communal forces at bay."

Gadgil, who is also a member of AICC media panel, claimed that BJP's losses in Uttar Pradesh proved that people did not want communal forces, while in Rajasthan the youth had voted for the Congress in a big way.