Naseem Khan to campaign again
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress working president Arif Naseem Khan on Saturday withdrew his resignation from the party’s campaign committee after its central leadership assured him that it would take corrective steps for due representation of the Muslim community in electoral politics. Khan’s name appeared in the fresh list of 40 star campaigners announced by the party for the final phase of the polls in the state, to be held on May 20.
Khan, who is one of the five working presidents of the Congress in the state, had resigned from the campaign committee to protest against the party’s failure to pick even a single Muslim candidate for the LS polls. He was expecting candidacy from Mumbai North Central where the party has fielded MLA Varsha Gaikwad. After resigning last week, Khan announced that he would not participate in the campaigning for party candidates. Senior state leaders then met him twice and assured him that his sentiments would be conveyed to the party’s central leadership. Subsequently, Ramesh Chennithala, the Congress in-charge of Maharashtra, spoke with Khan and invited him to participate in the Pune rally. “The central leadership was in constant touch with him over the last week,” said a senior party leader. During the rally, Rahul Gandhi spoke to Khan and seconded the stand taken by him. He was among a handful of party leaders allowed to speak at the Pune rally. The state leaders have reportedly been asked by the central leadership to hold a press conference to clear the party’s stand on the issue.”
“I spoke out to communicate the concern of the Muslim community,” said Khan on Saturday. “I have been getting huge response from community members. Rahul Gandhi has been fighting a battle of justice for all and the campaign needs to be strengthened further to oust the Bjp-led NDA from power.” The Congress reportedly chose Varsha Gaikwad out of fear of the ruling parties playing the Hindu-muslim card in their campaigning and criticising them for picking a Muslim candidate. It was said that the state leadership took the decision under pressure from the Shiv Sena (UBT). However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the party had no objection.