The Maharashtra Congress is set to hold an urgent meeting in Sangli to pacify MLA Vishwajeet Kadam and other party workers. Kadam has been staying away from campaigning for the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Chandrahar Patil in Sangli, which goes to poll in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7.
“Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole, senior party leader Balasaheb Thorat and other leaders will meet with party workers tomorrow (Thursday) in Sangli. After that, I will decide on campaigning,” Kadam told The Indian Express on Wednesday.
Kadam has been at loggerheads with the party because it did not field his nominee, Vishal Patil of the Congress, and let Chandrahar Patil contest from the seat as part of the seat-sharing agreement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
After Kadam failed to get his candidacy, Vishal Patil, grandson of former Maharashtra chief minister Vasantdada Patil, filed his nomination papers as an Independent. Monday was the last day for withdrawing candidacy for Sangli and Patil refused to do so despite the request from the Congress leadership.
As it turned out, three candidates are now in the fray in Sangli: Sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil of the BJP, Chandrahar Patil of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Vishal Patil.
Vikram Sawant, a Congress MLA, acknowledged that Vishal Patil was receiving a positive response from the public. “However, we are adhering to the alliance principles and campaigning for the MVA candidate,” Sawant said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded that the Congress take action against Vishal Patil, and the Congress has responded by saying that it will expel him.
However, it has emerged that the party will make one last-ditch effort to convince the rank and file to campaign for Chandrahar Patil. “Let us wait for one more day,” Kadam said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 24-04-2024 at 13:32 IST
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