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Discontent in Maharashtra Cong after legislative council election result
After Handore met Rahul , senior leader Mohan Prakash was tasked with examining the reasons for the loss in the council polls and the abstention of 12 legislators during the Eknath Shinde regime’s floor test, said a Congress functionary aware of developments.
After the Shiv Sena, discontent now seems to be brewing in Maharashtra Congress.
Former minister Chandrakant Handore has publicly expressed his displeasure with “some elements” in the party saying they split the votes he was assured in the legislative council elections held in June by cross-voting, leading to his defeat.
Handore, who belongs to the Buddhist Dalit community and is a former minister for social welfare, said that of the 44 Congress MLAs, 29 were asked to give him their first preference votes, but he secured just 22.
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president, Bhai Jagtap, who was the party’s second candidate, had emerged victorious in the election with 20 votes, instead of his fixed quota of 15.
On Sunday, Handore organised a show of strength by his social organisation, ‘Bhimshakti’, in Chembur, but denied he was upset at the central leadership or that he planned to join the Eknath Shinde camp.
“Lack of discipline has caused massive damage to the Congress… this should not be tolerated,” he said, adding that he had taken up the issue with former president Rahul Gandhi.
“I cannot make any allegations as the elections were conducted by a secret ballot system… but this is what is being discussed outside,” he added.
“Of my quota of 29 votes, I secured just 22 and seven votes were split. This is a huge conspiracy,” alleged Handore. “I am not upset at the party or its leadership. My ire is directed only at some elements who have broken party discipline... my fight is against those who are trying to impose their autocracy on the party,” he added.
When contacted, Jagtap declined to comment. “I do not want to discuss this as the party has ordered an inquiry and the process is underway. It will not be proper on my part to comment until then,” he said.
REAX FROM MAHA CONG STATE CHIEF?
After Handore met Rahul , senior leader Mohan Prakash was tasked with examining the reasons for the loss in the council polls and the abstention of 12 legislators during the Eknath Shinde regime’s floor test, said a Congress functionary aware of developments.
Prakash is expected to submit his report to Congress president Sonia Gandhi soon, said the functionary, asking not to be named.
PRAKASH REAX?
