Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 | Last Update : 03:31 AM IST
Ashok Chavan in fix as kin back rivals for MLC polls
Looks like state Congress president Ashok Chavan is in a precarious situation as most of his close relatives have decided to back independent candidate Shyamsunder Shinde ahead of the MLC polls in Nan
Looks like state Congress president Ashok Chavan is in a precarious situation as most of his close relatives have decided to back independent candidate Shyamsunder Shinde ahead of the MLC polls in Nanded.
Although an independent, Mr Shinde is supported by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena vis-à-vis Congress candidate Amar Rajurkar.
Mr Chavan’s brother-in-law and former MP Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar and other relatives have united against him ahead of the Nanded poll. However, Mr Chavan is confident of winning the elections. “We are in a majority in the Nanded constituency. Hence, Congress will win the seat despite the opposition candidate being financially strong,” Mr Chavan said.
Sitting member of state legislative council (MLC) Mr Rajurkar is a close confidante of Ashok Chavan. Mr Shinde is in fray against Mr Rajurkar. Mr Shinde is a retired bureaucrat and his last designation was excise commissioner. He had also served with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and Road Transport (RTO).
Meanwhile, Mr Khatgaonkar, a former Congress MP, who joined the BJP before the 2014 Parliament election, has gathered all anti-Chavan leaders against Mr Rajurkar.
Former minister Madhavrao Kinhalkar, who had filed case against Mr Chavan over paid news case in the Supreme Court is backing independent candidate Shinde. Shiv Sena legislator from Nanded (south) Hemant Patil is supporting Mr Shinde as well. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare and NCP leader Ajit Pawar have also announced their party's support to Mr Shinde. “The contest will be between Mr Chavan and rest of the party leaders,” said a Congress insider. Meanwhile, Mr Chavan said, he is still open for an alliance with the NCP.
On the other hand, in Pune, Vilas Lande has rebelled against NCP’s official candidate and sitting MLC Anil Bhosale. Ajit Pawar has asked Lande to withdraw his nomination. In Jalgaon, sitting MLC Gurumukh Jagwani has filed nomination against BJP’s official candidate Chandu Patel.
