In the local municipal corporation, the NCP has a full majority. The opposition Vikas Front comprising the BJP, Janata Dal and independents has 22 members. The Congress party has only 11 members in the house.

The Congress leaders say they will in no way join hands with the NCP. However they will hold talks with the Vikas Front, if the front leaders are willing, said Uday Pawar and Munna Kurhe of the Congress.

The Congress has declared Mohammad Kazi as its candidate for the mayoral post and Vimal Kharat for the deputy mayor's post.

In the NCP camp, five senior leaders including Suresh Patil, Kishor Kadam, Latif Kurhe, Kiran Jagdale and Harun Shihalgar are aspirants for the mayoral post. At a meeting of the NCP, it was decided that former MP Madan Patil should be authorised to choose the party candidate for the mayoral post.

Transporters hail govt move
Pune: The local transport organisations have welcomed the decision of the State Government to withdraw the toll tax within 48 hours and have assured that trucks would be on the roads by Friday afternoon.

According to Baba Shinde, vice-president, Maharashtra Truck, Tempos, Tankers Association a comittee would be formed to discuss the matter. ``Five members of the transporters will meet with the government representatives and putforth our proposals.''

Support for NCP in Srigonda
Ahmednagar: The political equations in Srigonda Municipal Council have changed with four Congress members and six independents extending their support to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, according to sources based in Ahmednagar.

The total strength of the council members is 17. In a statement issued recently, the 10 council members have also declared their intention to work for Babanrao Pachpute, the NCP candidate in Srigonda Assembly constituency.

Fake passport racket busted
Pune: The crime branch claimed to have busted a major passport forgery ring in Pune when they picked up a woman from Salunkhe Vihar on Thursday afternoon. According to police sources, Ruksana Talib Sayeed, a resident of Shah House, Salunkhe Vihar, had been allegedly operating a fake passport and recruitment agency. Sayeed would promise to send people abroad with lucrative jobs, police said.