Maharashtra Cong fails to arrive at consensus for MPCC posts

MUMBAI, June 9: Keeping up with the Congress' failure to arrive at a consensus leadership at the national level, the party's State unit too...

MUMBAI, June 9: Keeping up with the Congress’ failure to arrive at a consensus leadership at the national level, the party’s State unit too faces a similar dilemma making organisational elections for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) inevitable.

Even after factions, supporting and opposed to leader Sharad Pawar, held day-long deliberations, there was no compromise. “Elections could have been avoided had both the sides agreed to a compromise formula. But when there was no consensus for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) presidential elections, how can the MPCC lag behind?” a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express.

At one stage, Congress President Sitaram Kesri’s supporters also made an attempt to postpone the elections, saying they should be held only after the AICC presidential elections. However, the demand was rejected by Pradesh Returning Officer Santosh Mohan Deo.

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The elections were sought to be postponed in order to wait for the outcome of the AICC elections. In that event, the new incumbent would have played a decisive role in the election of new office-bearers of the MPCC.

While the Kesri loyalists’ group proposed the name of former Finance Minister Ramrao Adik, Kripa Shankar Singh, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Chimanrao Kadam, the pro-Pawar group emphasised on the candidatures of former home minister Padamsinh Patil, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil and Govindrao Adik. In another development, former ministers, Digvijay Khanvilkar and Vijay Naval Patil, declared that they would be contesting the elections.

As more names started pouring in, former Pawar suggested that one leader from each group should sit together and arrive at a consensus. Accordingly, the Kesri loyalists’ group was represented by former chief minister Sudhakarrao Naik and the pro-Pawar faction by A R Antulay, who had withdrawn in favour of Pawar.

MPCC President Sushilkumar Shinde acted as mediator between the two groups, but there was no compromise as both the sides remained adamant.

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According to a supporter of Pawar, it would not be difficult for the pro-Pawar group to capture the entire MPCC as more than 450 out of the 596 delegates have extended their support to him. “During the last two days, they have assured Pawar that they would abide by his directives,” he added.Meanwhile, Pawar’s supporters were also trying to rope in former railway minister Suresh Kalmadi to contest the MPCC presidential election. They feel that in view of the party’s outstanding performance in the Pune region, Kalmadi can emerge as a consensus candidate. As per the programme released by the MPCC, nominations forms will be accepted tomorrow between 9 and 11 am. They will be scrutinised between 11 am to 12 pm. The forms can be withdrawn between 12 pm to 3 pm and if needed polling will be held from 6 pm.A president, three vice-presidents, a treasurer, 51 members of the executive committee, 75 members of the AICC and 15 members of the State Selection Committee will be elected.