Workers blame each other, leaders at ‘Sankalp Melawa’ of Congress
   Date :03-Jul-2019

 
Staff Reporter:
 
The city unit of Congress party had organised a ‘Sankalp Melawa’ at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall here on Tuesday to discuss the party organisation and preparations for forthcoming State Legislative Assembly elections. However, the workers blamed each other and some of the leaders for the party’s defeat in recently held Lok Sabha elections. Vilas Muttemwar, former Member of Parliament, presided over the meeting while Nana Patole, Congress candidate who faced defeat from Nagpur constituency in recently held Lok Sabha elections, was the chief speaker.
 
Kishore Gajbhiye, Congress candidate who faced defeat from Ramtek constituency of Lok Sabha; Vikas Thakre, City President of Congress party; Dr Baban Taywade, State Vice-President of the party; Umakant Agnihotri, Atul Kotecha, Vishal Muttemwar, Spokesperson of All India Congress Committee; Adv Abhijeet Wanjari shared the dais on the occasion.
 
Vikas Thakre made introductory remarks. He said that Congress did not get defeated in Lok Sabha elections as it secured addition to votes it had polled previously. “We have ensured that party organisation got strengthened despite the party not being in power. For the forthcoming State Legislative Assembly elections, let us implement a 100-day programme for working in a planned manner to further strengthen the party organisation and ensure victory in the elections,” he said. He reminded the workers that the deadline for submission of applications by those seeking party ticket for Assembly elections was July 6. Vishal Muttemwar asked the workers to prepare a list of booth workers in 15 days. Sheikh Hussain, former City President of the party, also spoke on the occasion.
 
While presenting a review of Lok Sabha elections, he alleged that ‘a booth-level president’ had committed ‘irregularities’ in handling money meant for booth-level workers. Though he had not named any one in particular, a woman office-bearer went up on stage, and a heated exchange of words between Hussain and her followed. Finally, Vikas Thakre intervened and pacified both. But, there were others also. Some of the speakers openly took names of Satish Chaturvedi, former minister; and Dr Nitin Raut, Chairman of SC Cell of Congress party, and accused them of hurting party’s interests. Some of the workers present in the meeting stood up and interrupted the speeches of a few speakers. Though the meeting was to motivate workers for forthcoming Assembly elections, many workers kept pointing out where the party leadership went wrong during Lok Sabha elections. Finally, the leaders had to address the gathering and appeal to the workers to resolve differences and work together for Assembly elections.