While one NCP rebel candidate from Chinchwad has decided to extend his unconditional support to the Nationalist Congress Party, another NCP rebel -- who apparently is being wooed by the Congress -- has set terms to join the Congress. Vilas Lande, who was elected from Bhosari assembly constituency, said he was not interested in the chairmanship of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Newtownship Development Authority (PCNTDA) offered by the Congress offer and would instead prefer a ministerial berth.

"What will I do with the chairmanship of the PCNTDA ? If I were to join the Congress, then they will have to offer me a ministerial berth. Nothing short of a ministerial post as it involves my political future," said Lande, who was in Mumbai on Tuesday, for a second round of discussion with senior Congress leaders including the chief minister Ashok Chavan. Lande said during Monday's talks, Congress leaders had promised him a ministerial berth after approval from party chief Sonia Gandhi. "I was told that they had sent the recommendation to the party chief and would let me know in a day or two. Today I have again being called to Mumbai for another round of discussion. I am slated to meet the chief minister and other Congress leaders," Lande told this paper in the evening.

While rumours of Lande having re-joined NCP floated around, the two-time Bhosari MLA said he has not joined any party so far. "I am an independent MLA and continue to be so," he said. Lande said he was not present at Monday's meeting of legislators called by the NCP in Mumbai. "This clearly indicates that I have not joined the party," he said.

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