News Analysis India

Tag: Maharashtra Congress chief

  • Groupism in Congress will not be tolerated, says Nana Patole

    By PTI
    THANE: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has said groupism in the party will not be tolerated and nobody was above the party and its ideology.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Congress’s office in Navi Mumbai township here on Wednesday, Patole asked local leaders to settle their disputes and work for strengthening the party.

    “Groupism will not be tolerated in the Congress. Nobody is above the party and its ideology,” he asserted.

    There was nothing wrong in any party activist aspiring for a post and every deserving person should be given some responsibility, he said.

    “There are several seniors in the Congress, like Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, but the party leadership has given the responsibility of the party’s state unit to me. Those who prove their calibrewill be given opportunities,” he said.

    He further said those who had quit the Congress were welcome to return to the party.

    Patole also said the Congress would contest all 111 seats in the forthcoming Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) elections on its own.

    He claimed that Navi Mumbai was facing issues like crime and corruption and people were fed up of the present civic leadership.

    Earlier, the NMMC polls were scheduled in April last year, but were put on hold due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

    The NCP won the NMMC polls in 2015 under the leadership of Navi Mumbai strongman Ganesh Naik.

    However, Naik along with his sons and supporters joined the BJP in 2019.

  • Maharashtra Congress chief replacement? AICC in-charge consults leaders

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Maharashtra H K Patil has held discussions with senior state party leaders over a possible replacement for state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, in keeping with the its ‘one person-one post’ formula.

    Thorat is currently the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president as well the revenue minister in the state’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    He is also the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

    Patil, who is on a two-day visit to Mumbai, held discussions with senior Maharashtra Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday night at Sahaydri guest house here and later with Thorat over revamping of the state party unit.

    Besides, state PWD Minister Ashok Chavan met Patil on Wednesday morning.

    Congress sources said discussions pertained to the present situation of the party and measures to be taken for its revival.

    “It looks like the ‘one man-one post’ formula will be implemented.

    Thorat had the option of continuing as state president or minister in the MVA government,” a source said.

    “But, he (Thorat) has expressed his desire to give up the organisational post,” the source said.

    The front-runners to replace Thorat include AICC general secretary for Gujarat Rajiv Satav, and Maharashtra ministers Amit Deshmukh, Yashomati Thakur, Vijay Wadettiwar and Vishwajeet Kadam.

    Satav, who is considered close to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is currently the Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra.

    Patil will also meet other senior state party leaders and MLAs during his ongoing Mumbai visit.