With NCP on way to field their own candidate and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) having started campaigning in the city, speculations are rife that the two old allies of the Congress may not extend support to the party this time.

T L Sharma, vice-president (media) of the NCP, said a meeting was held recently with NCP President Sharad Pawar, wherein the party decided to field its own candidate. A campaign committee has also been constituted for the same.

“We have sent a panel of names and a final decision will be taken soon. We supported the Congress in the past few years, but the party has not shown any positive results with the local MP saying that officials do not listen to him. He should have resigned as not much development has taken place in the city under the Congress,” said Sharma.

The RJD has, meanwhile, been holding its independent campaigns after having named Haffiz Anwar-ul-Haq as its candidate. President of the city unit of the party Ravinder Krishan said there is no question of supporting the Congress as there is only one Lok Sabha seat in the city.