Mumbai : Though the party appears to have won the first round against alliance partner Congress, there is not all well in the Nationalist Congress Party. Insiders believe that unrest is brewing within the party and many have started criticising the leadership day by day. Congress party withdrew its candidate from the Legislative Council by-poll, facilitating state NCP unit Chief Sunil Tatkare’s unopposed election to the council. But, this has not gone well with some of the party leaders.
“The opportunity should have been given to some other senior leader in whose assembly segment party was trailing during the Lok Sabha polls,” a senior party functionary said. “There are many leaders in the party who need this kind of support but the leadership decided to support one who does not have any such support,” another office-bearer added.
Pachpute may soon
quit the party
Senior party leader, ex-minister and ex-state unit president Babanrao Pachpute too has been unhappy with some of the recent decisions made by the party leadership. He is expected to announce his decision to quit the party anytime soon. Tatkare told reporters here Thursday that he has had a long discussion with Pachpute recently. “I tried to address all the issues he raised. But, if one has made up his mind, you can’t do much,” Tatkare said indicating that Pachpute might quit the party soon. “Pachpute had strived hard to develop network of workers in all corners of the state when the party was young. So, it would indeed be painful not to have him with us,” Tatkare said.
Pachpute had complained that tribal face of the party, Madhukar Pichad, had abused him in public recently. Pachpute and Pichad had contradictory views on the Dhangar reservation issue. Pachpute even claimed his stand has been vindicated by the recent decision of the state cabinet over the issue.
Unease among
backward leaders
The party renamed its ‘Backward Cell’ as ‘Social Justice Cell’ on Thursday. But, the party leaders from backward communities have been complaining that they are being ignored for a long time.
In a meeting of district-level office-bearers of backward cell on Wednesday, there was an outburst. Many leaders complained they were not treated well by other workers. “Some of the office-bearers from Marathwada even complained that they are made to sit on the ground while others sit on benches and chairs,” one of the speakers who addressed the meeting on Wednesday told FPJ. “The meeting was attended by around 350 backward cell activists from all over the state. The meeting was called to gear up the cell and highlight what party has done for the backward community. But the impression the four hour-long meeting left was in complete contradiction to the purpose,” the leader confided.
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