Congress retains dominance in ZP: Kokadde elected new ZP chief, Raut is Vice-President

 

 

Congress, which is leading the ruling alliance in Zilla Parishad (ZP) retained its dominance as both its candidates -- Mukta Kokadde and Kunda Raut -- got elected as President and Vice-President respectively in the elections held on Monday. Though the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which lacked adequate numbers, fielded its candidates for both the posts, it withdrew and supported Congress rebels. The only thing that was a worrying factor for the ruling alliance was rebellion by three members of Congress and one member of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The 58-member ZP house has more than half members belonging to Congress.

 

Thus, Congress is enjoying the single-handed majority in ZP. It leads the ruling alliance that comprises eight members of NCP, Gondwana Gantantra Party, Shetkari Kamgar Paksha, and Independent. Given the situation, it was a foregone conclusion that Congress would win both the posts of ZP President and Vice-President. Rashmi Barve’s tenure as ZP chief came to an end and the new President was to be elected. For this term, the post of ZP President was reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST). Congress fielded Mukta Kokadde, a teacher who got elected as ZP member from Patansaongi circle, for the post of President. It fielded Kunda Raut, second-term ZP member and daughter of Shyamdev Raut who was ZP President years ago, for the post of Vice-President. It was expected to be a smooth sailing for both. However, three of Congress’ ZP members namely Nana Kambhale, Pritam Kaware and Megha Mankar resorted to rebellion. BJP, though having only 14 members, fielded Neeta Walke for the post of President and Kailas Barbate for the post of Vice-President, so that the elections did not remain uncontested. However, later, BJP withdrew them from the fray. Instead, BJP decided to support Congress rebels Pritam Kaware and Nana Kambhale for the post of President and Vice-President respectively. Kokadde polled 39 votes and secured comfortable victory, but her votes did not include the votes of three Congress rebels. Kunda Raut, with 38 votes, also sailed smoothly and won the contest for the post of Vice-President.

 

However, Raut did not get votes of three Congress rebels as well as one rebel from NCP. As soon as the election results were out, the workers of ruling alliance started celebrating outside ZP building. Sunil Kedar, former minister; Rajendra Mulak, District President of Congress party; Rameshchandra Bang, former minister and senior leader of NCP; Rashmi Barve, outgoing ZP President; Nana Gawande, Suresh Bhoyar, Manohar Kumbhare, Shanta Kumre and others greeted the newly elected ZP chief Kokadde and deputy Raut by offering bouquet and sweets to them in the chamber of ZP President. 

 

 

Rebelled against Kedar; Mulak promised support but reneged: Kambhale NANA Kambhale, Congress’ ZP member who raised the flag of rebellion, made a sensational allegation against Rajendra Mulak, District President of the party. Speaking to reporters at Ravi Bhavan after the elections of ZP President and Vice-President on Monday, Kambhale said that for three months he had met Mulak to complain against Rashmi Barve, then ZP President who belongs to the camp of Sunil Kedar but he did not listen to the appeals of the Congress’ ZP members. “Mulak had then promised me support of six ZP members of his camp, if I contested the elections against Kedar group. Our fight was against Kedar group’s domination to the extent as if there was no Congress organisation in the district beyond them. However, Mulak reneged on the promise as is seen from today’s result,” Kambhale alleged. 

 

Historic win for us, action will be taken against rebels: Mulak Rajendra Mulak, District President of Congress party, described the thumping win of party candidates to the posts of President and Vice-President as ‘historic’. Also, he said that action would be taken against the party rebels. At the same time, he said that BJP had to withdraw its candidates from the fray considering the strength of Congress. “As it lacked the numbers, BJP tried to break the alliance side through different means. Still,it could not succeed. This speaks of the good work Congress and its alliance partners NCP, Gondwana Gantantra Party, Shetkari Kamgar Paksha, and Independent have done under the leadership of Sunil Kedar,” he told reporters. Asked about rebellion by three of Congress members, Mulak replied that the party would conduct enquiry into the episode and take ‘appropriate action’. Rameshchandra Bang, senior leader of NCP, also was present on the occasion. Asked about NCP member Manisha Fender parting ways from party strategy, Bang said that NCP would send a report in this regard to the State President for appropriate decision. 

 

Wave of transformation: Sunil Kedar Sunil Kedar, former minister who led from the front to ensure smooth victory for Congress candidates in the elections for the posts of Zilla Parishad President and Vice-President, said that the election result was the beginning of transformation. In a statement issued on Monday, Kedar said that Congress registered thumping win in Panchayat Samiti elections two days ago. “We expect similar result in future also. Today’s victory in ZP President and Vice-President elections is an acknowledgment of the work done by Maha Vikas Aghadi. We are committed to development of rural areas of Nagpur district,” Kedar added.