Ramtek could be Congress’s Waterloo

MUMBAI: The results of the three Lok Sabha by-elections in Maharashtra amount to more than just a loss of seats for the Congress. Its defeat will intensify the power struggle within the party and strain ties with its ally, the NCP.

Of the three by-elections, the Congress lost Ramtek and Jalgaon. The NCP contested Erandol and won.

The Jalgaon defeat is a loss of face for Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, while the Ramtek verdict is a slap for Revenue Minister Narayan Rane.

Congress candidate Subodh Mohite’s defeat by Shiv Sena’s Prakash Jadhav in Ramtek, owing to a revolt by senior Congressman Ranjit Deshmukh shows the limits of the party’s strategy of importing legislators from the Sena. The strategy has antagonised party loyalists and caused untimely elections.

A party source said the results could trigger organisational changes. In anticipation of that, the blame game has begun. “I would blame the Congress and the friendly ally for sabotaging the Ramtek poll,” said Rane. “Top leaders conspired against me to negate my political growth.”

Deshmukh was more composed. He took the loss in his stride and refused to blame anyone.