Hussain, Pandey make it to MPCC list

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has recommended the name of party’s outgoing MLC Muzaffar Hussain and Avinash Pandey as candidate for state legislative council and Rajya Sabha (RS) election, respectively, to the party’s selection committee. The decision has reportedly created an unrest within the party.

Former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde who was a strong contender for the Rajya Sabha said he would accept party president’s decision. However, a party insider claimed that MPCC chief Ashok Chavan was accommodating his clique, keeping aside party benefit.

According to a highly-placed source from Delhi, Mr Chavan and party in-charge of the state Mohan Prakash met party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and submitted the names of the proposed party candidates for legislative council and RS election that will be held on June 10 and 11, respectively.

“MPCC held a meeting of party legislators last week and took a decision to recommend outgoing MLC Muzaffar Hussain and outgoing RS MP Avinash Pandey as party candidate for the ensuing election,” said a senior party legislator on condition of anonymity.

Former chief minister and senior congress leader Narayan Rane and former minister Harshawardhan Patil are also in the race to be elected as MLC. Mr Rane was not available for comment whereas Mr Patil said that he was not aware about the recommendation by MPCC. However, he admitted he was aspiring for the post of MLC.

MPCC has also recommended a second name of outgoing independent MLC Vijay Sawant who is a strong opponent of Mr Rane and was elected on July 8, 2010, with the support of Congress. Ashok Chavan was the chief minister of the state then, and with his recommendation, Congress MLAs had voted for Mr Sawant.

Mr Sawant has never been associated with Congress and in fact, he had taken pot-shots at Mr Rane for proposing to set up a sugar factory in Sindhudurg district.

Party insider said that Mr Chavan’s recommendation of Mr Sawant could be seen as the subtle message to Mr Rane that a second power centre within the party would not be entertained.

MPCC has also recommended Nagpur-based Avinash Pandey, an outgoing RS member, as a candidate. Mr Pandey is secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC). Mr Shinde who is one of the aspirants for the RS post said he was a loyal party worker and would accept the party president’s decision. “Sonia madam has given me a lot and though it is true that the party needs experienced and aggressive leader in Rajya Sabha, I will not ask party president to recommend me. I will accept the decision whatever it will be,” said Mr Shinde.

Another aspirant Gurudas Kamat and outgoing MP Mr Pandey did not respond to calls. Mr Chavan too was unavailable for comment.