The Congress is confronted with growing dissidents within its ranks out to challenge the candidates nominated for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress is confronted with growing dissidents within its ranks out to challenge the candidates nominated for the Lok Sabha elections.
On Sunday, the Congress MLA PU Mehta along with ten local corporators and district office bearers submitted their resignations to protest Sanjay Nirupam's nomination from Mumbai North. Mehta, who was the frontrunner for the seat, is upset because an outsider was given preference over the loyalists in the constituency. After being expelled from Shiv Sena, Nirupam had joined the Congress in 2005.
The Mumbai North Congress is unable to accept him arguing he is an "outsider" in our area. The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Kripashankar Singh convened a late-night meeting to resolve the crisis. Nirupam said, "I am not aware about any rebellion against me." Mehta also underplayed the drama by saying, "We will work in party's interest." A couple of days ago, Eknath Gaikwad (Mumbai South Central) faced rebellion from local leaders, forcing senior leaders Gurudas Kamat and Singh to intervene and contain the crisis.
Whether it is Sanjay Nirupam, Pratik Patil (Sangli), Suresh Kalmadi (Pune), Datta Meghe (Wardha), Mukul Wasnik (Ramtek), Jayantrao Awale (Latur), the list of candidates facing in-house dissidence runs long.
The banner of revolt in key constituencies across state is being led by prominent leaders of the party. State revenue minister Patangrao Kadam wanted his son Vishwajeet to contest from the Sangli seat. But the central leadership finalised the candidature of sitting MP Pratik Patil, the grandson of former chief minister late Vasantdada Patil.
Expressing his disappointment, Kadam said, "It appears the loyal Congress leaders are being taken for granted by the party. How else does one explain rebel Narayan Rane, despite abusing the AICC leaders, managing to get a ticket for his son Nilesh in the first list. This while senior leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde and Gurudas Kamat were kept on tenterhooks right until the last list."
The disorder in Pune Congress is an open secret. A section was staunchly opposed to sitting MP Suresh Kalmadi. But Sonia Gandhi overruled them to accommodate him as the candidate.
){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}
){kind=small}