Congress feud in city gets intense

Prakash and Thakre had agreed to meet local Congress leaders after a demand that in the absence of Kalmadi after his arrest following allegations of corruption in awarding CWG contracts,another leader should be chosen to keep the flock together ahead of the civic polls eight months away.

The anti-Kalmadi faction attacked the other for tomtomming “achievements” of Kalmadi and taking his side,”thus ruining the image of the party”.

One of the groups,the one taking Kalmadi’s side,sought a one-on-one with the senior leaders citing “loyalty”,the other group demanded to know “the definition of loyalty”. This led to the angry exchange.

Congress leader Balasahab Shivarkar played down the incident and said things had been blown out of proportion. “I had just demanded that loyal party workers be given a hearing… We hope we will get a hearing soon,” he said. Another Congress leader,Ulhas Pawar,refused to comment. In another party meeting,a group of Congressmen said those still calling Kalmadi their leader were harming the party image. On Sunday,they decided to sound top party leaders about it.

Congress leader Gopal Tiwari said,”The high command does not tolerate wrongdoing by party leaders. Kalmadi was shunned by the party command and even by the Prime Minister after charges came up against him. So why are local leaders still supporting him ?” City unit president Abhay Chhajed,also known as a Kalmadi-supporter,was also flayed at this meeting. He refused to comment.

Chhajed and PMC house leader Aba Bagul asserted that the city Congress was still united but some other party leaders feared the worst in the civic elections. “Small groups are making a lot of noise that could confuse voters. In an election year,the party needs to get its act together,” said Tiwari. Bagul said all that is currently happening is the handiwork of “certain parties” wanting to destabilise the Congress. “But the Congress in PMC and in the city is united and all differences will disappear soon,” he said.

There are talks of Maharashtra Ministers Narayan Rane and Patangrao Kadam likely replacing Kalmadi. Mohan Joshi,Ulhas Pawar and Balasaheb Shivarkar are also touted as those in the reckoning. Officially,there has been no statement from the Congress.

The Kalmadi camp is defiant and even chose to describe Kalmadi as a “caged lion”.

His personal secretary Manoj Bhore said,”Our leader is going through a bad phase…it will soon pass.”

It was hardly two months back that the city Congress had considered itself a strong and united house to contest civic polls on its own. Today,the party is struggling to keep its flock together,said a partyman who did not want to be named. “The leadership issue following suspension of Kalmadi,the verbal war between party leaders,bitter differences with alliance partner NCP and the CWG taint have left the party in tatters,” said a party leader.