Elections at Kurla’s Zarimari (ward no 155) will largely circle around two friends-turned-rivals Congress S Annamalai and rebel Siddique Khan.
They were the best of friends, but the race to BMC elections has developed bitter animosity among two senior Congressmen. Elections at Kurla’s Zarimari (ward no 155) will largely circle around two friends-turned-rivals Congress S Annamalai and rebel Siddique Khan.
The 24-year-old friendship between the two went sour when the Congress backed the candidature of Annamalai ahead of Khan as party’s candidate for the ward. Khan rebelled and is now contesting as an Independent. Annamalai is Mumbai Regional Congress Committee’s (MRCC) general secretary while Khan is the secretary.
Alleging that it was groupism that cost him his ticket, Khan said, “For 36 years, I have strengthened the party base in the region. During my term as a block president, the party did not lose a single election. I have been waiting for an election berth for 30 years. Even Annamalai backed my candidature in the beginning, but later backtracked and forwarded his own application. I feel betrayed by my friend and the party.”
Annamalai countered, “My wife Lalita is the ward’s incumbent councilor. My claim for a ticket is justified. It is unfortunate that Khan has rebelled.”
Khan says that Annamalai is an “undeserving candidate”.
“He is the contractor of four social institutions in the ward and is a beneficiary of funds of the BMC. As per election rules, he is not entitled to contest the elections. I have filed a writ in the court against the validity of his candidature; the hearing of the petition is scheduled after elections. I ask voters not to vote in his favour as their votes would be wasted when his nomination is considered invalid.”
Annamalai refutes the claims. “I headed a single social institution and resigned from its presidentship before filing nomination. He is leveling baseless allegations as he has nothing else worth raising.”
The Congress camp, in turn, plans to corner Khan in the Mithi rehabilitation scam. “I was framed my own partymen,” he said.
“I am innocent. If the party corners me, I will expose Annamalai. I know him better than anyone else,” Khan added. Khan claimed that Annamalai’s political career blossomed under him, a charge negated by the later.
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