Pune City Congress Threatens Suspension for Leaders Defying Party Line
Pune, 5th November 2024: Despite attempts by Mahavikas Aghadi leaders to persuade them, Congress candidates who rebelled in the Kasba, Shivajinagar, and Parvati constituencies for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections have refused to withdraw their candidacies. The Pune City Congress has issued notices to those who have not backed down, urging them to sheath the sword of rebellion and support the official candidates of the Mahavikas Aghadi. If they do not comply, the Pune City Congress has decided to take suspension action. A similar proposal has also been submitted to the Maharashtra State Congress.
The rebellion has emerged from prominent figures, including former Deputy Mayor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and former Maharashtra State Vice President of Congress, Aba Bagul, who is contesting in Parvati; the first female mayor of PMC and former Women’s Maharashtra State President of Congress, Kamal Vyavahare, from Kasba Peth; and former Vice President of the Kirkee Cantonment Board, Manish Anand, from Shivajinagar. The leaders of the Mahavikas Aghadi have made continuous efforts to resolve the revolt, but they have not been successful.
In light of this situation, the Mahavikas Aghadi’s stance on the rebels was addressed in a press conference today. Congress Pune City President Arvind Shinde, NCP-SP Pune Chief Ankush Kakade, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Pune City Chief Sanjay More, and Gajanan Tharkude, along with other officials, were present at the event.
Congress’s Arvind Shinde said, “The position of the party leaders is that there should not be a rebellion, as all of us want to support the Mahavikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. To that end, local leaders have made efforts to convince them. Regular meetings were held for this purpose, and senior party leaders also reached out to them. Time has not yet run out. A notice has been issued to them as a final opportunity. No action will be taken against the rebels if they declare their support for the official candidates of the Mahavikas Aghadi. However, failure to do so will result in suspension. A similar proposal has also been sent to the State Congress.”
Ankush Kakade added, “The Mahavikas Aghadi has succeeded in suppressing rebellions in many areas. However, some attempts have failed. If the rebellion continues, the candidates will be barred from future opportunities, even in the upcoming PMC elections. They will not be accepted in any party within the Mahavikas Aghadi. A consensus has been reached among local leaders regarding this, and a resolution will be sent to the leaders of the Mahavikas Aghadi.”
Pooja Anand, the wife of Congress rebel Manish Anand from Shivajinagar, is the Pune City Women’s President of Congress. Consequently, a notice has been issued to her to clarify her position immediately. If she informs them in writing that she supports the candidate of the Mahavikas Aghadi, the action will be reconsidered. However, Shinde mentioned that if she does not respond, she will be dismissed.
