Wading through a jumble of names of its own members as well as many eminent personalities from different fields, Congress party, locally, appears to have zeroed in on the candidature of former Mayor and current Member of Legislative Assembly Vikas Thakre to be pitted against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the Nagpur-Kamptee Lok Sabha constituency. Though the final choice rests with the Congress high command, Vikas Thakre appears to be mentally ready for the challenge against the formidable two-time MP Nitin Gadkari Meanwhile, ‘The Hitavada’ has learned that some serious concerns are cropping up within the Congress organisation if Vikas Thakre is really good enough to dare Gadkari in the electoral arena. Interestingly, both Gadkari and Thakre are known to harbour personal goodwill for each other.

 

A meeting to discuss the party’s candidates for Vidarbha was held at the residence of Vilas Muttemwar, ex-MP of Nagpur, where it was unanimously decided to recommend Thakre’s name as Lok Sabha candidate from Nagpur, to high command. Ex-ministers Satish Chaturvedi, Dr Nitin Raut, Vikas Thakre, MLC Abhijeet Wanjari, Atul Kotecha, Prasanna Tidke, Sanjay Mahakalkar, Umesh Dange and others were present at the meeting. Confirming the development, Vikas Thakre, who is also the President of city unit of Congress; told ‘The Hitavada’, “I neither demanded nor took efforts to get the ticket but Nagpur Congress recommended by name.

 

I haven’t said yes or no. If high command asks me to contest, I shall follow the orders. If everyone says no to contest, then it is not good for a party like Congress. Someone must fight. If my name is finalised, then I shall fight with full force.” Satish Chaturvedi, Vilas Muttemwar, Abhijeet Wanjari did not respond to calls made by ‘The Hitavada’. But Dr Nitin Raut made it clear that Congress traditionally doesn’t nominate names in such a way. “There is a process by which names of the candidates for any election are finalised. Congress Working Committee will take a final call for the same.”