Congress becomes ‘non-existent’ in Pimpri

It all began during the PCMC elections nearly three years back. In the house of 104 corporators,the Congress could win only 20 seats. A few months later,the party was split vertically over election of a coopted corporator. Eight of them,including unit chief Shrirang Barne,were suspended from the party. Though later they were taken back into party fold,the damaged had already been done. After this high drama,the party put in its might to secure itself the Maval parliamentary seat,but it went to alliance partner,the NCP. Several Congress leaders stayed away from election campaigning. Some of them joined hands with the Shiv Sena. This meant that Congress as a party had no presence in the election ring. In between,Congress forget to play the opposition role in Pimpri-Chinchwad. It had no issues to rake up. It took no cudgels on behalf of the citizens.

The scenario has got to Congress leaders and workers who are increasingly getting worried about the identity of the party. Many fear that if urgent steps are not taken to infuse enthusiasm in the party,Congress will disappear from Maval and Shirur constituencies where 12 assembly seats are stake. “Congress has lost its speed… Congress is not seen to be believed,” says an angry Congress corporator Amar Moolchandani. “All local leaders are responsible for the current plight of the party. They are quarrelling among themselves and doing nothing to revive the party’s fortunes,” says Moolchandani,without naming anyone particular leader.

Criticising senior party leaders,Moolchandani said powerful leaders like Suresh Kalmadi,Harshvardhan Patil and Patangrao Patil should step forward and take keen interest in putting the Congress in Pimpri-Chinchwad on the revival path. “Congress’ revival in Pimpri-Chinchwad is necessary as from here the party has the chance to win maximum assembly seats falling under Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies,” he said.

Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress president Bhausaheb Bhoir blamed it all on internal dissession and inaction of the party in disciplining the rebels. Bhoir also said the alliance with the NCP is putting paid to the presence of the party in Maval and Shirur. “We tried out best to get Maval seat,but in vain. Because of this,the Congress suffered heavily as the party remained non-existent for voters,” he said. “It is difficult to keep the flock together especially when you are out of the power,” he said. Bhoir faulted the State Congress leaders for not reviving the Pradhikaran committee where the party was in power. “How will our cadres revolve around the party when I don’t even have the power to appoint special executive magistrates?,” he asks.

Barne,who has been in the eye of storm for hobnobbing with the Shiv Sena,said when he was the president he too had faced difficult times,especially opposition from local leaders. “But I did everything possible to raise party’s stock in public eye,” he said. Barne said only Bhoir is in a position to tell whether Congress exists in Pimpri-Chinchwad or not.

Another Congress leader Babu Nair said efforts are on to revive the party. “We have set up party cells in different wards of the town and have also appointed in-charges. Besides this,we have already taken up issues affecting the common man with the PCMC. We are trying to find solution to people’s problems.”