Congress state unit yet to hear from high command on names suggested for holding seat-sharing talks

Irked with Patole’s action of not seeking approval before giving responsibility, the party high command cancelled the appointment the next day. Sources also confirmed that a complaint was made to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal over Patole’s dictatorial manner of running the state unit.

Faced with embarrassment, Patole on October 7 officially wrote to Kharge seeking permission to name the above mentioned three leaders for the preliminary talks of Lok Sabha seat-sharing.

“The letter was written on October 7. As of now, no official acceptance have been given to the names submitted,” said a senior party leader from Delhi. Sources also indicated that lack of a full-time All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Maharashtra has also led to delays in the communication with Delhi.

Party’s state in-charge and Karnataka Minister H K Patil has not visited Maharashtra for over two months now. Patil being not named in the newly announced Congress Working Committee (CWC), also means that he won’t remain as the AICC in-charge of the state unit. Patil’s absence from the happenings within the state unit of the party is also fuelling infighting within. “It is important that announcements are made at the earliest. The communication gap within the state unit and Delhi is creating nuisance and the party’s future endeavours in the state,” the leader said.

Following the meeting between Thackeray and Patole, it was decided that each of three parties in the MVA would assign three leaders to kick-start primary discussions on the Lok Sabha seat-sharing. Patole, allegedly without even consulting with senior leadership within the party, chose to go ahead with the announcement naming Chavan, Khan and Patil.