Congress MLA to withdraw nomination

Mumbai: The Congress has managed to pacify its MLA Abdul Sattar — who had filed nomination as an independent from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency — and convinced him to withdraw his nomination.

Mr Sattar had left the Congress in a huff after he was denied a Lok Sabha nomination from the Aurangabad parliamentary seat. He also proclaimed his plans to contest as an independent, worrying the Congress over his potential to split Muslim votes in this minorities’ dominated seat.

However, Mr Sattar assured that he was “not discontented or unhappy with anybody, either in the party or the leadership” which could prompt him to leave the party.

On this matter, Mr Sattar stated, “I am very keen to do something for the Muslim community, help solve their problems, and achieve their aspirations. I feel it can be done on a larger platform through a Muslim elected to Parliament.”

When asked about his suspicious move, Mr Sattar said that he bac-ked away from the electoral fray as his candidature might divide the “se-cular” mandate. He reiterated his previous sta-nce that he would neither rejoin the Congress nor owe allegiance to the BJP.