On Friday, the Congress named Avinash Pande, an old party loyalist, and media baron Vijay Darda as its official candidates for the elections.
Proximity to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi appears to have played a significant role in facilitating the selection of Avinash Pande for a Rajya Sabha seat from Maharashtra. The elections for six Rajya Sabha seats from the state are scheduled for June 17.
On Friday, the Congress named Pande, an old party loyalist, and media baron Vijay Darda as its official candidates for the elections. The party’s ally, the NCP, has also fielded two candidates while the Shiv Sena and the BJP have fielded one each.
Sensing the strong opposition within the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) this time to candidates from outside, the central leadership did not thrust Union commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma on the state. Both Pande and Darda are from Maharashtra.
Senior MPCC officials told DNA, “By giving the Rajya Sabha ticket to Pande we have sent across the message that the organisation cares for those who are loyal to it. Pande deserved reward as he had been working quietly in the organisation for more than 20 years.”
Pande shot to prominence in the party after Rahul Gandhi included him in the team that is engaged in rebuilding the organisation in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi has taken upon himself the responsibility of refurbishing the party in the crucial Hindi heartland state.
Also, there was a feeling within the state Congress that an injustice was done to Pande by fielding him for the Rajya Sabha against Rahul Bajaj when Bajaj’s victory was a foregone conclusion, enjoying as he did the support of the NCP, Shiv Sena, and BJP.
Darda faced resistance to his candidature, with some arguing that as he had already served two terms as Rajya Sabha member, someone else should be given a chance.
But Darda argued that he had been elected as an independent in his first term and so the party had fielded him only once. Also, chief minister Ashok Chavan backed him strongly.
The NCP candidates for the Rajya Sabha are Tariq Anwar and Ishwarlal Jain. The Sena has renominated Sanjay Raut and the BJP, Piyush Goel.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}