Congress activists protest over MLA Thopate’s non-induction in Maha cabinet

A party leader from Bhor said all the 20 corporators of the Congress have resigned in support of Thopte

Supporters of Congress MLA from Bhor in Pune district, Sangram Thopte, staged a protest on Monday after he failed to find a berth in the newly-expanded cabinet led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Sangram Thopte’s supporters, who were seen wearing black ribbons on their arms, burnt poster and staged a protest outside the Bhor municipal council building on Monday. (HT/PHOTO)

Thopte’s supporters, who were seen wearing ribbons on their arms, protested outside the Bhor municipal council building. The also raised anti-party slogans and burned a party baner.

Thopate, who was one of the leading aspirants for a ministerial berth from Pune district, was unavailable for comment.

A party leader from Bhor said all the 20 corporators of the Congress have resigned in support of Thopte. They have submitted their resignation letters to party higher-ups in Mumbai, he said.

A three-time MLA from Bhor, Thopate defeated Shiv Sena’s Kuldeep Sudam Konde is 2014 and 2019 assembly elections. He won against Konde with a bigger margin in 2019 as compared to 2014.

Sangram Thopte and his father, Congressman Anantrao Thopte, have been active in the sugar cooperatives politics of Bhor and surrounding areas.