Congress leaders unhappy over Rahul Gandhi’s offer

Mumbai: A group of Congress leaders from the state is disturbed over Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s decision to offer the position of state Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief to sulking leader and former minister Narayan Rane.

As word about Mr. Milind Deora meeting Mr. Rane to tell him about Mr. Gandhi’s offer got out, a lobby within the State Congress started protesting the decision to bring Mr. Rane at helm of the party’s affairs in Maharashtra.  

On Tuesday, Mr. Deora, along with former minister Naseem Khan, met Mr. Rane. Though Mr. Rane has not replied to the offer, other groups within the state Congress, especially that of current MPCC chief Ashok Chavan, are disturbed by the offer.

Ashok Chavan

The PCC post is generally given for three years. As per the Election Commission’s direction, Congress must go for internal elections by September 2017. Mr. Chavan’s tenure was set to end, but his followers don’t seem happy with the proposed change.

Mr. Rane has been vehemently against Mr. Chavan after the recent Zilla Parishad elections. He asked the Congress high command to remove Mr. Chavan and make him the PCC chief. In this situation, Mr. Gandhi’s offer is been seeing as the Congress leadership kowtowing to Mr. Rane.

A senior Congress leader said: “This will send the wrong message not just in Maharashtra but all over India. Internal elections of the party are scheduled across India. There are many sulking leaders who want important posts. If Mr. Rane gets it, these leaders will try to pressure the Congress leadership.”

Another leader from Vidarbha pointed to Mr. Rane’s consecutive defeats in Assembly elections. “Ashokrao has won his own election and been able to keep his district intact. What about Raneji? He lost twice, his son lost the general election. Why should such an important post be given to a leader like him?” the leader asked.