Mumbai, Dec 26 (UNI) Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which is making a determined bid to wrest power from the Shiv Sena, in the Mumbai and Thane civic bodies, have begun deliberations over seat-sharing for the February 1 elections.

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson, Mr Hussain Dalwai told UNI here today that city unit leaders from both the parties have begun discussions regarding the political situation prevalent in both the cities and the different wards in which polling will be held.

''There have been been changes in the boundaries of various wards,'' he observed.

''However, the talks are still at a very preliminary level and have yet to take any concrete shape,''he added.

Mr Dalwai rubbished reports in a section of the media that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's rally in Mumbai on Saturday was a damp squib.

''The public meeting was tremendously successful and the whole credit goes to city unit president Gurudas Kamat. It is unfortunate that our own people are spreading such canards to prevent Mr Kamat from getting the credit due to him. Before departing for Delhi, Ms Gandhi herself appreciated Mr Kamat's efforts for conducting a well-organised public meeting. Even Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh publicly lauded Kamat,''he pointed out.

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