Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, MAY 27: The Congress seems to be headed for a split in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC following its decision to expel four more corporators today. The party had already expelled five corporators two days ago.
Deputy leader in the BMC Ravindra Pawar informed the Congress had concrete evidence against the four corporators against whom action was taken today, though he refused to identify the four. 8220;We will announce the names when the time is appropriate,8221; he said. He added the four had spoilt the image of the party but did not elaborate on their activities.
On allegations that party leader Kisan Jadhav had also indulged in anti-party activities by attending the meeting called by Sharad Pawar, he assuredthat if evidence was found against Jadhav, the Congress would definitely initiate action against him.
The evidence against the expelled corporators will be provided when our decision is challenged by them, he said. The Congress, meanwhile, has written to regional commissioner in-charge of Konkan division Sharwaree Gokhale asking her to expel five corporators from the BMC as corporators. Asked why the corporators had not been given a chance to explain their case, he said, 8220;They can do that before the regional commissioner. If our decision is wrong, the commissioner will direct us to reinstate them and we will abide by it.8221;
However, the expelled corporators alleged they had been expelled for no fault of theirs. Vishnu Kanavje, one of them, said his only fault was that he met leader of opposition in the Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal. 8220;But that was before he was expelled from the party,8221; he contended. Another corporator, Vijay Kudtarkar, said he was out on a holiday when the entire drama unfoldedand hence the question of anti-party activities does not arise.
Meanwhile, the five corporators expelled two days ago have asked municipal secretary Sudha Khire to make separate sitting arrangements for them in the corporation hall during the general body meeting. However, they have been asked to speak to Mayor Hareshwar Patil in this regard. At the meeting today, the five sat in a row along with Balwant Pawar, a hardcore Sharad Pawar supporter.
Some of the other Pawar supporters in BMC are former Mayor RT Kadam, Jasumati Chavan, Subhash Mayekar, Manorama Patil and Vijay Dulla.
With nine names on the expulsion list, the defectors now need another eight corporators to float a new party. Experts feel this is possible as the Congress corporators have worked against the party earlier. During the mayoral elections in 1997, 22 Congress corporators had voted for the opposition candidate.
But Pawar dismissed this, saying: 8220;We have nothing against corporators who want to defect. If they do not want to supportSonai Gandhi, they are free to resign.8221;
