Stop 'tu tu main main', Rahul to party workers

Expressing inevitability of alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the state and other alliance partners at the Centre, All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday told the party workers to bury ‘tu tu main main’ and ensure stingent punishment for anti-party activities.

In his exercise of review and interaction with various district units and block level units, Gandhi was on a two-day visit to Maharashtra. After reviewing 16 district units at Nagpur on Tuesday, he held meetings with various district units at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.

While giving a patient ear to all the party workers from various districts, Gandhi was at his wittiest self. “Alliance with NCP and other parties is a reality. Party workers should strengthen the party so that there is no need of any alliance,” he said.

Many party workers and leaders expressed the need for going alone during the next general elections in 2014 as well as during the next assembly elections. 

In his address to the extended state executive meeting, Gandhi emphasised on discipline in the party.

Member of legislative council Ulhas Pawar said, “During the meeting,  he motivated the party workers stating that the entire country is with the party and now the party workers should leave aside their personal differences. They should take efforts to strengthen the party instead.”

“Gandhi also stressed on discipline among the party workers and said that those who will be tarnishing the image of the party should be punished so severely that it is visible to others. He also expressed that the party worker who is working hard should be motivated and brought forward by overtaking others,” said Pawar.
shailendra.paranjpe@dnaindia.net

Mum on Kalmadi

While Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakare had openly shared the dais with Congress suspended member of parliament Suresh Kalmadi two weeks ago, when Gandhi was in Pune, the city Congress leaders chose to remain silent on Kalmadi issue.
Only deputy mayor of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Sunil Gaikwad claimed that he gave a memorandum to Gandhi requesting him to reinstate Kalmadi if he gets a clean chit.

Speaking to media, Gaikwad said, “I requested Gandhi to reinstate Kalmadi if he gets a clean chit. I also requested that Kalmadi should be considered for Pune's Lok Sabha seat as he has the capability to win.”

However when city Congress chief Abhay Chhajed was asked about the issue, he said that Gaikwad was not present for the meeting when Gandhi met party workers from Pune.

Gandhi meets Seva Dal

Gandhi made it a point to meet Congress Seva Dal activists, who told him blankly that Seva Dal, which is the mother organisation, has been forgotten.

Ranjanatai Rajput, veteran Seva Dal activist told Gandhi, “We expect respect from the party workers.” When Gandhi asked her what she would do if she is made the chief, she said, “I will work like late NS Hardikar and Rajiv Gandhi.”

She told Gandhi that the party would grow if mother organisation is not remembered only for the work during such gatherings and conventions. Seva Dal activist Latendra Bhingare was happy as for the first time a leader like Gandhi spoke to him personally.

Separate meeting with MLAs

Gandhi discouraged MLAs from raising any issues during his interaction with district and block level units. He announced that he would separately meet all the Congress MLAs in the country and address them on conveying flagship programmes and other issues to the masses.