Anees Ahmed, former minister of Maharashtra and a Gandhi family loyalist took a U-turn and returned to Congress fold on Saturday. For the upcoming Assembly elections, Ahmed was to contest from Nagpur Central seat on the ticket of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) but failed to file the nomination in time on the last day of filing papers. A week ago, expressing disappointment over denial of ticket to a Muslim candidate for the Assembly polls, Ahmed had deserted Congress. Ahmed had missed the deadline of filing the nomination on the last day as he claimed that he had to face obstacles while on way to the office of the Returning Officer (RO). Earlier, Ahmed’s resignation created ripples within Congress as it felt, his candidature may divide Muslim votes in the polls. Nagpur Central constituency has a good number of Muslim population.

 

It is believed that Congress scored a political victory when Ahmed failed to file nomination as VBA canddiate. It is also believed that Ahmed missed the deadline was a part of Congress’ game plan as the party high command succeeded in convincing him not to do so. Since his candidature was in news, Ahmed had to save his face by reaching the RO’s office but late. Congress has fielded Bunty Shelke, who had lost to Vikas Kumbhare, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in 2019 by a slender margin. Ramesh Chennithala, Maharashtra’s All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge welcomed Ahmed back to the party fold in a small ceremony in Mumbai.