Congress and BJP rebels set to alliance in Gujarat

In a significant development which could have immense bearing on the two-phased assembly elections in Gujarat, on December 11 & 16, Congress has agreed upon a seat-sharing formula with BJP rebels as well as Nationalist Congress Party.

Highly-placed sources told that the BJP rebels might get 15 seats, mainly in Saurashtra, and NCP 10 seats in South and Central Gujarat, including some tribal constituencies. The BJP rebels are likely to be contesting on the Congress symbol.

The seat adjustment talks were handled by Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, who spoke to Sharad Pawar and Keshubhai Patel. The arrangement will leave 157 seats for Congress in a House of 182.

Though the BJP rebels and NCP bosses had made inflated demands for tickets, it is learnt the numbers have now been finalised.

Even though BJP leaders have been proclaiming that Keshubhai would not leave BJP, the grand old man of the ruling party in the state has been kept in the loop on every move by another former CM, Suresh Mehta, the main negotiator for the rebels.

Agencies