The upcoming election for the Legislative Council has led to differences between two former Congress chief ministers of the state, with Prithviraj Chavan alleging that state party president Ashok Chavan did not take him into confidence before deciding on forming an alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the polls.
Congress has strongly opposed the NCP’s suggestion of contesting the MLC polls, which will be scheduled in November this year, in an alliance. NCP has suggested that sitting MLCs should contest the poll in their respective constituencies. Congress feels an alliance would benefit the NCP as Congress has only one member in the Upper House while NCP has four.
The term of six MLCs elected from local body constituencies will expire on December 5 this year. The poll is expected to be announced in November to fill up the vacated posts.
Dhananjay Munde, leader of Opposition in the Upper House and NCP MLC, announced at a rally during his recent visit to Nanded that both Congress and NCP would contest the MLC election jointly. Mr Munde had also said that the constituency of sitting MLCs would remain the same.
This means NCP will contest four seats out of six and Congress will contest on a single seat.
Prithviraj Chavan said MPCC president Ashok Chavan is favouring NCP in the MLC polls. He said Ashok Chavan did not consult with him before taking a decision about the alliance.
“When Sangli-Satara, Yeotmal are the strong bastions of Congress, NCP should leave the seats for Congress,” Prithviraj Chavan said. “If they (NCP) are not ready, then Congress should contest all six seats,” he added.
In the previous MLC election, “NCP contested two seats and we had accepted to contest on a single seat. This time, they want to contest on five (while) we are expected to contest on a single seat. This is injustice and Congress should not accept it,” said Prithviraj Chavan.
Meanwhile, reacting over Mr Munde’s statement, deputy chairman of the Upper House Manikrao Thakre, said such decisions are never taken at public rallies or on a stage.
“We held a joint meeting of both the Congress and NCP and some issues have been sorted out while remaining will be sorted out after Ganesh festival,” said Mr Thakre.
When asked which issues were sorted out, Mr Thakre said, three seats from graduate constituencies and two seats of teachers constituencies would also be vacated in December. Congress and NCP have each member each in teacher and graduate constituency respectively. “We have consensus over supporting candidates who will contest in three teachers and two graduate constituencies,” claimed Mr Thakre.
