Cong downplays rebellion by Maharashtra minister

Congress downplayed the rebellion by a Maharashtra minister in wake of the party fielding Rajendra Shekhawat,son of President Pratibha Patil from Amravati constituency.

Congress downplayed the rebellion by a Maharashtra minister in wake of the party fielding Rajendra Shekhawat,son of President Pratibha Patil from Amravati constituency saying “there is always some amount of unhappiness during election time”.

“During election time,there is always some amount of unhappiness among those who are denied tickets. It is natural. But we are confident no true Congressman will rebel against the party’s official list (of candidates),” Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarjan told reporters at the AICC briefing in the capital.

She was replying to questions on rebellion by Minister of State for Finance Sunil Deshmukh,who was denied his sitting Amravati seat in Vidharbha after the party fielded Shekhawat from there.

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Natarjan parried questions whether the party will take action against Deshmukh,saying “whatever future steps will be taken will be decided by senior leaders including the AICC general secretary in-charge for the state”.

She also deflected a question why Congress gave tickets to relatives of senior party leaders and VIPs,saying “the party announced a composite list of party workers”.

A four-time MLA,including twice from Amravati,Deshmukh after being denied ticket yesterday said he was shocked and would file his nomination as an Independent,maintaining that “injustice” has been done to him by the leadership.

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