Congress hopefuls on mission to Delhi

A delegation of Congress corporators, led by Mayor Datta Gaikwad and Leader of the House Chandrakant Chhajed, have also left for Delhi for the same reason.

Party sources said former Railway minister Suresh Kalmadi has put in a word for Mohan Joshi, who remained loyal to the party even when Kalmadi made his exit earlier, and now Pawar. Joshi supporters said he had kept the party alive during the crucial period and should be rewarded with the Lok Sabha ticket.

The Kalmadi camp has opposed the candidature of former mayor Vandana Chavan because they see in her a potential threat. Kalmadi himself, the sources said, was sore because Chavan had not left the party with him when he launched his own political party at the time of the last Lok Sabha elections.

On the other hand, Chavan’s supporters claim that she too has been loyal to the party and possesses greater electoral merits when compared to the other aspirants.

A section of state Congress leaders are pressing for the candidature of MPCC general secretary Anant Gadgil, son of veteran Congressman V N Gadgil. These leaders want to check the growing influence of Kalmadi in the party by ensuring that a Kalmadi nominee is denied a ticket. They argue that the party should do justice to loyal workers by nominating Gadgil since the family has always stood by the Gandhi family.

Congress sources said Kalmadi has demanded three Assembly seats in the city including Bhavani Peth, Kasba Peth and Bopodi. The Kalmadi camp has suggested the names of former mayor Ali Somji from Bhavani Peth, former mayor Chandrakant Chhajed from Bopodi and former mayorKamal Vyavhare from Kasba Peth.