Nana Patole. file. , Photo credit: The Hindu
Refuting notions of a crisis with the Maharashtra Congress following a tussle with senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, MPCC chief Nana Patole on Friday asserted that there was “no schism” within the state unit and it was a “false atmosphere”. . by the BJP to defame the party and mislead the voters.
“There is no rift within the Maharashtra Congress… It is only the BJP which is spreading such rumors and creating a false impression that the Congress is divided as they cannot digest their recent loss in the MLC elections. I still do not know whether Mr. Thorat had submitted his resignation as CLP or not,” Mr. Patole said.
Earlier this week, Mr Thorat had resigned from his post as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) following serious differences with Mr Patole, particularly over the Nashik MLC election controversy. In his letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Mr Thorat has reportedly alleged that he was being “targeted” and “humiliated” by Mr Patole during party meetings and found it “impossible” to work with the MPCC chief. Was.
This has led to intense speculation that Mr Patole may be replaced as the MPCC president.
With Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil visiting Mumbai on Saturday, Mr Patole said he would not meet him as he would be in Pune between February 11 and 14 to prepare the party and lead the campaign for the upcoming assembly bypolls . Kasba Peth and Chinchwad assembly constituencies are to be held on February 26.
“I have already spoken with Mr. Patil and given him all the necessary information over the phone… I will stick to campaigning for the assembly bypolls. Even in the Kasba area, the BJP had created a false impression that there is division within the Congress. Maha Vikas Aghadi The alliance (Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray) won both the bypolls with huge margins.
Meanwhile, Mr Patole’s verbal duel with his ally, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut, continued on Thursday when he remarked that the MVA government led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could have remained in power if Mr. Patole would not have resigned. Abruptly resigned from the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (early 2021).
“I thank Mr. Raut for considering me so powerful that if I had stayed on as Speaker, the MVA would not have fallen… I appreciate him for proving his might to the nation,” Mr. Patole said. said in a contemptuous quip. On Mr. Raut.
Mr. Patole said Mr. Raut should explain how the Shiv Sena could allow a rebellion (by current chief minister Eknath Shinde) to happen right under his nose.
“Mr. Raut has some answers to answer regarding the fall of the MVA government. He should ask himself who was the CM at that time. Was there any lapse in the top leadership of Shiv Sena which slept through the crisis? [Mr. Shinde’s revolt]” They said.
Mr Patole had resigned as president in February 2021 – barely a year after the formation of the MVA – to take over as the Maharashtra Congress president. However, his exit not only disrupted functioning within the MVA parties, but also created a vacuum which was never filled during the tenure of the MVA government.
The MVA was toppled in June 2022 following a coup by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, which saw the formation of a new government with the BJP supporting the Shinde faction.
Stating that the Speaker’s post was very important during a political crisis, Mr Raut said it is especially so when there is a coalition government like the MVA.