Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
‘I suggest my colleagues do not consider the Congress party as their private property’
MUMBAI: The voices of dissent against state Congress chief Nana Patole have grown vociferous of late. First, Balasaheb Thorat stepped down as Congress legislative party leader, accusing Patole of sabotaging the candidature of his nephew Satyajeet Tambe in the council polls and defaming their families. Another senior leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, has also taken swipes at Patole, his fellow Vidarbha Congressman, claiming if the latter had not quit the assembly speaker’s post the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government would not have collapsed. To douse the infighting, especially at a time when the party is looking to revive its political fortunes in the state, All India Congress Committee in-charge of Maharashtra, H K Patil, is visiting Mumbai on February 12.
However, a confident Patole has a different take on the party’s internal turmoil and the way forward. In an interview to Hindustan Times, he ruled out any infighting in Congress but issued a note of caution to his colleagues: the party should not be considered as their family-run firm. On Wadettiwar’s claim, which first appeared in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, Patole said deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal, who was in charge after his resignation, had the equal powers and could have used it to save the government.
Excerpts:
What is the reason behind this sudden infighting in Maharashtra Congress?
There have been small differences among leaders but there is no infighting as such. These differences will be resolved by the leadership. BJP is trying to spread rumours about us, just to divert people’s attention from the council polls defeat they were handed down in Nagpur and Amravati. When we went to file the nomination for the Kasba Peth assembly bypoll in Pune, senior leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan were present. This is a proof that our unity is intact.
Didn’t Thorat openly express his unhappiness over the way you handled distribution of party tickets for council elections?
Thorat says he is not happy but no one knows why. He is said to have written a letter (to the party leadership) in this regard which no one has seen. Now H K Patil is coming to meet him and other leaders.
What exactly happened in Nashik graduates’ constituency during council polls after which you were criticised by Thorat and Tambe?
I have already said it is a family dispute - between father (Sudhir Tambe) and son (Satyajeet Tambe). So, I don’t want to get into it. The party high command has taken action against the persons concerned and the matter is now over for us.
Satyajeet Tambe has blamed you for not issuing
This allegation came later. Initially, Satyajeet claimed that the forms were sent in his father’s name. He is changing his statements and I don’t to discuss it.
Have you spoken to Thorat?
We last spoke when nomination papers were to be filed for the council polls. Since then, he has not been keeping well. He is recovering from multiple fractures in his right shoulder after he fell down in Nagpur. He is not taking phone calls either. I too was busy in the campaign (for the council elections).
No one is unhappy. I have not expressed displeasure against anyone. Even today I accept that Thorat is our Congress legislative party leader. I am an MLA and he is our leader and we are working under his leadership (in the assembly).
This is exactly why a state executive committee meeting has been called on February 15 where all these issues will be discussed and resolved.
Thorat said he was insulted and action was taken against party workers from Ahmednagar without taking him into confidence.
The action was taken by the party high command. I have not removed Sudhir Tambe (Thorat’s brother-in-law) from the party.
Isn’t it a time to work together as the party’s prospects could be brighter if council poll results are an indication?
The state executive committee meeting is supposed to be held once in three months. It had not been happening for years but we are holding the second meeting within a month. I take everyone along so that we can improve the party’s performance. I suggest all my colleagues do not consider the party as their private property or a family firm.
Sena (UBT) and leaders from your own party claimed that your resignation from speaker’s post was a mistake.
The person (deputy speaker
Thorat among star campaigners for Pune by-elections
Amid controversy over his resignation as leader of the Congress legislative party, Balasaheb Thorat has been declared one of the party’s star campaigners for the bypolls to Kasba Peth and Chinchwad constituencies scheduled for February 26.
On Friday, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal released the list of the star campaigners, in which Thorat’s name appeared on the third position after HK Patil, Maharashtra in-charge, and Nana Patole, state unit president.
Zirwal) had the same powers that were with me. Are they questioning his capability? Moreover, I resigned following orders from the party leader Sonia Gandhi. It is my duty to follow the order of the leadership.
Are you suggesting that deputy speaker failed to fulfil his responsibilities during rebellion in Shiv Sena?
I’m not commenting on who is capable and who is not. My point is the deputy speaker had the authority in the absence of speaker and why that person could not take the necessary actions. I would request MVA leaders to come together in the fight against BJP.