Loyalists set off fireworks in Cong

PUNE, Nov 7: The internal dissension in Pune city Congress has intensified with the loyalist camp making a forceful demand to the State p...

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PUNE, Nov 7: The internal dissension in Pune city Congress has intensified with the loyalist camp making a forceful demand to the State party leadership that a special observer be sent to the city to look into party affairs.

A group of about 15 corporators recently called on Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Prataprao Bhosale and vice-president Ulhas Pawar in Mumbai and made several grievances against the manner in which the party was being run in the city. Both the leaders reportedly assured the angry corporators that they would be sending an observer to listen to their complaints after Diwali.

The group of Congress loyalists, led by former MLA Sharad Ranpise and former mayor Vandana Chavan reportedly took strong objection to frequent interference in party affairs by Rajya Sabha member Suresh Kalmadi. They demanded that the entire party set up had been changed in view of the post-election political scenario and loyalists should be given priority while appointing office bearers.

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The group also demanded that Chandrakant Chhajed, who has been elected to the Assembly, should be asked to resign from the post of Leader of the House. They complained that the party would send a wrong signal if Chhajed was allowed to hold two posts – MLA and corporator, at one time.

The delegation brought to the notice of the leaders that the party had not taken any action against three corporators, who had rebelled against the official candidates in the recently concluded Assembly elections. They complained that the party was silent on the issue since two of the three corporators – Sadanand Shetty and Udaykant Andekar were known Kalmadi supporters. The corporators also demanded action against party corporator Kailas Kodre, who contested as Nationalist Congress Party candidate from Pune Cantonment constituency.

Taking a serious note of the rival camp, Kalmadi supporters in Pune Municipal Corporation has launched a signature drive in support of their leader. Mayor Datta Gaikwad and Chandrakant Chhajed are personally talking to party corporators to consolidate their position. The Kalmadi camp managers are firm that Chhajed should not be made to resign as corporator.

Meanwhile, the loyalist camp has managed to secure blessings of senior party leaders V N Gadgil and Jayantrao Tilak. Gadgil, who has distanced himself from local politics for the past couple of years, is expected to arrive in the city after Diwali. He is also reportedly planning to hold a rally of loyalists. Sources in the Gadgil camp said he had already warned the party high command about the manner in which party was being run in Maharashtra.