Infighting in Cong comes to fore; now NCP wants two more seats

With Vikas Thakre, President of Nagpur City Congress making scathing attack on state party leadership for ignoring loyals, the infighting in his party came to the fore. The other Congress leaders too came forward and expressed similar sentiments. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too, has demanded two seats in city. They already have two seats in rural constituencies. Unlike in Western Maharashtra, NCP did not face hopping in Vidarbha, because of which its leaders of this part are insisting that their demands should be fulfilled.

In both major alliances-- BJP-Sena and Congress-NCP the position has completely changed. In 2014 Assembly elections Sena had upper hand over BJP while NCP was predominant to Congress. But in 2019 the calculations have changed. It is BJP that is dictating while NCP is ready to accept whatever Congress asks it to. In Vidarbha NCP has advantage as it could attract Vijay Ghodmare of BJP to join them. Ghodmare had won assembly elections in 2009 on BJP ticket. In 2014, BJP fielded Sameer Meghe, son of ex-MP Datta Meghe in the place of Ghodmare. Meghe performed exceedingly well and senior leaders of BJP decided to continue Meghe. Now Ghodmare is the first case of detractor who left BJP and joined NCP. He is likely to replace Ramesh Bang and contest election.

Bang was pitted against Meghe in 2014. Meanwhile Vikas Thakre blasted party leadership for ignoring the loyals. When Balasaheb Thorat took over as President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), it was speculated that he would be a bit harsh against Vilas Muttemwar group. The speculation came true when Satish Chaturvedi, the arch rival of Muttemwar was reinstated. Till Yesterday, Muttemwar group did not say anything but the meeting organised at Devdia Bhavan where Adv Shrihari Aney was invited to speak on ‘Vidarbha’ witnessed some aggressive comments. Sources disclosed that the change in state top leadership may result in leader like Vikas Thakre joining BJP. Congress is likely to repeat its candidates in rural as well as urban except one or two changes. Instead of Satish Chaturvedi the name of Vishal Muttemwar is making rounds.

But Vishal has to compete with his own fellow colleagues both joined from other parties. Pramod Manmode is being pushed by Vijay Wadettiwar while Atul Londhe has support from Manikrao Thakre. In East Nagpur name of Adv Abhijeet Wanjari is not facing any competition except Umakant Agnihotri. But both these seats are on strong demand by NCP. Last week Jayant Patil, State NCP President had been to Nagpur and he in fact announced the names of Party candidates-- Duneshwar Pethe from East while Raju Nagulwar from South. Duneshwar Pethe is promising candidate and is the lone Coporator of NCP while Nagulwar too has done promising work in South Nagpur. Nagpur NCP is aggressively demanding these two seats. In rural Hingna and Katol will remain with NCP without fail but in urban the alliance will experience fierce fight among themselves.