Thursday, November 17 2005 20:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Malwan: Campaigning for by-election to Malwan Assembly constituency in Maharashtra on November 19 where Congress candidate and Revenue Minister Narayan Rane is facing Shiv Sena nominee Parshuram Uparkar ended today.

Among those who addressed rallies included Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, AICC general secretary Margaret Alva, senior Congress leader Prithiviraj Chavan, MPCC chief Prabha Rau and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, who was Rane's colleague in the Shiv Sena for some time, also joined the poll campaign.

Leaders of NCP, Congress' coalition partner in Maharashtra government also joined the campaign trail today.

Bal Thackeray's son Udhav Thackeray and nephew Raj Thackeray also addressed a series of meetings.

The by-election has been necessitated due to Rane's resignation as Sena MLA after being expelled from the party in July.