The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Sangli seat row: Kharge to meet Uddhav as Raut issues a warning
WITH THE Shiv Sena (UBT) refusing to give up the Sangli Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to speak to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in a day or two to resolve the ongoing stalemate which has affected the MVA’S campaigning in the constituency. The Sena has warned that if the Sangli seat controversy is not settled, it will have a bearing on other seats in Maharashtra.
Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, who had rushed to New Delhi Friday, said he met Kharge and senior party leader KC Venugopal and urged them to resolve the issue. “I met our party chief and explained the congress' s position in sang li to him. it old him about our months-long preparations to win the seat. Our party chief conceded it was wrong on the part of the Se na to field candidates when Sang li has been a traditionalcongress bastion ,” he told The Indian Express Saturday.
“Our party chief has promised to take up the issue with the Sena head,” he said. The Congress wants to field Vishal Patil, grandson of former CM Vasantdada Patil from the seat. The Sena has already fielded Chandrahar Patil, a popular wrestler, while the BJP’S sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil is in the fray.
San jay raut, who was in sang li for a second consecutive day Saturday, said, “Chandrahar Patil will be a nm va candidate. neither these na nor the congress want to keep the bitterness going. We are hopeful of the row ending soon,” he said. However, he warned “if the Sangli seat acrimony continues, it will have a bearing across Maharashtra... We hope the Congress will not stretch the matter too far. Chandrahar Patil is our candidate but also of the MVA.”
Raut, who arrived in Sangli to talk to Congress and NCP leaders on Friday, was unable to hold the meeting. “I could not meet Vishwajeet Kadam or Vishal Patil as both were away in New Delhi,” Raut told The Indian Express.
Raut, however, said the Sena (UBT) will do everything possible to send Vishal Patil to Parliament. Kadam had earlier said the Sena (UBT) never discussed contesting from Sangli during the MVA meetings. “Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj wanted to contest on our ticket from Kolhapur... but the Sena did not mention if Kolhapur goes to Congress, then they'd want to contest Sangli seat.”
Kadam said, “We are doing everything possible to hold on to our traditional bastion.”
The Congress, meanwhile, has not been campaigning in Sangli. “Yes, we have stayed away from campaigning until the issue is resolved,” said Vikram Sawant, president of the Congress’s district unit.