Raut? Gajbhiye? High drama over Congress ticket from Ramtek
| Date :26-Mar-2019 |
Staff Reporter,
After many twists and turns Nitin Raut fails to file papers, Kishor Gajbhiye to be official candidate
THERE is many a slip between the cup and the lip. The ancient wisdom behind this proverb hit Congress veteran Dr Nitin Raut hard in the face on Monday when he failed to file nomination as Congress nominee from Ramtek (reserved) seat for want of official AB form. However, in the process, factional feud within Congress fold was badly exposed. Congress had announced candidature of ex-IAS officer Kishor Gajbhiye from Ramtek seat on Sunday evening after former Union Minister Mukul Wasnik preferred to look after organisational responsibilities. Raut and others swung into action and, according to them, could reach out to Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
He reportedly directed the Central Screening Committee to immediately declare nomination of Dr Raut and replace the announced candidate. Unaware of the backroom drama, Gajbhiye reached the District Collectorate on Monday morning with fanfare and filed his papers in presence of Nitin Raut himself. Practically nobody including Raut was aware about the actual decision of party high command, since in Congress protesting over candidature of party rival is a very common practice. According to Congress workers, Raut received a call from AICC when he was before the returning officer with Gajbhiye and could not pick the phone. As soon as he came outside the chamber, he returned the call and was informed about this decision. The AICC sources also asked him to get in touch with Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Ashok Chavan and General Secretary Ganesh Patil to get the AB form, prepare his paper and rush to returning officer and contest poll as official candidate of Congress. Elated with this surprise development, Raut camp immediately prepared his papers and annexed all documents. His son Kunal reached Collectorate with papers fuelling speculations that he was contesting as rebel candidate. Within minutes Nitin Raut quietly reached District Collectorate premises along with Saoner MLA Sunil Kedar, who had bitterly opposed candidature of Wasnik and Gajbhiye. He was accompanied by his faithful supporters. The factional feud within Congress fold in city and rural was quite visible during these two hours.
Raut and co. were constantly in touch with MPCC office but MPCC Chief himself was busy in filing his own nomination papers from Nanded Lok Sabha seat. The MPCC general secretary politely informed Raut to ensure a specific instruction from Chavan to issue AB form. Congress President Rahul Gandhi was also addressing a major press conference and Raut camp could not reach out to anybody. As the clock was ticking, everybody was clueless and tension was palpable within Congress camp. His presence inside the Collectorate led to a rumour about change of candidate from Ramtek which upset Gajbhiye and his supporters including many prominent followers of Mukul Wasnik, who immediately tried to thwart this move. Now, it was time for Raut and his ardent supporters to get AB form before the nomination time was over.
Despite frantic calls to General Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and waiting till almost the last minute of the last day, Raut could not get the official AB form from MPCC and had to return empty handed cursing his luck. Gajbhiye camp heaved a sigh of relief after the time was over since withdrawal of candidature in such a manner would have sent a wrong message to electorate, according to them. A dejected Raut, parried media queries and later was closeted with trusted workers at an undisclosed destination. According to a senior Congress leader who played a major part in this unsuccessful coup, revealed that they decided not to file papers as independent since they had blessings of Congress high command whose instructions have been overlooked by some. They blamed Wasnik and MPCC chief for the so called fiasco. However, Wasnik supporters claimed that Raut used pressure tactics to secure ticket from the party high command. According to them, Dr Raut, who is National President of Congress (SC) Cell, tried his Delhi connection to change the nomination on the lines of Chandrapur citing widespread discontent, but due to solid support to Gajbhiye from Wasnik and his followers, could not succeed.