Faced with the prospect of being saddled with candidates who may not win precious seats, Congress workers are threatening to walk out of campaigns if the party high command does not consider their views on nominees.Tilak Bhavan, the Congress state headquarters, is simmering with anger. This time round it is against the party high command’s proposed decision to field ‘outsiders’, non-party members, as official candidates.Partymen are not keen to have either actor Govinda or former Navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat nominated as official party candidates. While Govinda’s name is being considered from the Mumbai North constituency against Union Petroleum minister Ram Naik, Bhagwat’s name is doing the rounds for the Mumbai South constituency to take on Union MoS for Energy Jaywantiben Mehta.It may be recalled that Govinda had made brief appearances at the civic election campaign in 2002 when Shashi Prabhu had contested on a Congress ticket from Kandivli. Despite Govinda’s appeal, Prabhu lost the polls.In Bhagwat’s case, it could emerge as an embarrassing choice for the party as the BJP is bound to dig some unknown facts about the ex-Navy chief, feel partymen.Govinda’s candidature is being questioned as he is considered close to the Shiv Sena. ‘‘He is a very close friend of Smita Thackeray and the Sena, so what is he doing in the Congress. Govinda is not even a member of the Congress, then why field him?’’ said a Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee office-bearer. When contacted by The Indian Express, Govinda said: ‘‘I am not in a position to talk on this matter.’’ Admiral Bhagwat also refused comment: ‘‘Let there be talk, I am unwilling to comment now.”
