Sunday, February 19 2006 16:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The victory of Congress candidate in Naigaum Assembly by-election has 'consolidated' the party position, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said today (Feb 19 2006).

The Naigaum result was an indication of the party's performance in next year's Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Deshmukh told sources here.

"The Naigaum victory was the victory of the Congress-NCP alliance", he said.

Asked about the defeat of Congress nominee in the Shrivardhan assembly by-election, the chief minister said "the result was unexpected. We will have to study the causes behind the defeat."