 "Chavan strives to bring together warring factions")
Of the 27 constituencies where the Congress is contesting, groupism and inaction by senior party functionaries have come to surface in at least 10 seats. This has forced Chavan to swing into action and personally talk to disgruntled elements. Chavan also has had to convince party functionaries to work for alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s nominees to avoid the opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance making capital out of it.
“Ultimately, the party’s success is important. It has been my sincere effort to keep our flock together. I spoke to some of our leaders and asked them to follow coalition dharma,” Chavan told Business Standard.
Chavan had to camp between April 5 and 7 in Vidarbha, where polling is slated for April 10. The Congress is contesting seven seats and the NCP three.
In Nagpur, nominee and veteran Congressman Vilas Muttmewar is also struggling to keep intra-party groups together. He faces a challenge from BJP’s former national president Nitin Gadkari. Chavan had to intervene and talk to water conservation minister Nitin Raut, to become pro-active in Muttemwar’s campaigning. Raut, who enjoys clout among Dalit voters, was dissatisfied with Muttemwar’s style of functioning. However, Raut has responded positively to Chavan’s unity call.
In Chandrapur, a group led by former Congress MP Naresh Puglia is not happy with the nomination of cultural affairs minister Sanjay Deotale. Deotale is pitted against BJP nominee Hansraj Ahir, who blew the whistle on the the coal scam, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Wamanrao Chatap. The division is so visible in the Congress that Deotale had to move around with his few followers.
In Ramtek, a reserved seat, party general secretary and former union minister Mukul Wasnik is pitted against Shiv Sena nominee Kripal Tumane. A lack of strong organisation and co-ordination among party office-bearers have been a major headache for Wasnik. Chavan had to hold a series of meetings with disgruntled elements. Wasnik’s re-election is quite crucial for both Chavan and the party in general, as Wasnik is very close to 10, Janpath.
In Marathwada, the Congress is contesting five of the total eight seats. However, internal bickerings pose a serious challenge.
In Mumbai, the Congress is yet to convince displeased leaders in five of the six constituencies. Party MP Priya Dutt, who is pitted against BJP nominee Poonam Mahajan and Samajwadi Party candidate Farhan Azmi in north central Mumbai, is blamed by party ministers and workers for not taking them into confidence. Chavan had to speak to the Mumbai unit chief Janardan Chandurkar, minister for minority affair and textiles Naseem Khan and former city chief Kripa Shankar Singh to step up their efforts for Dutt’s re-election. Chavan played a crucial role to pacify leaders and workers who had openly voiced their concern against the re-nomination of party MP Eknath Gaikwad from the south central Mumbai constituency. A large number of block presidents had threatened to defy the party decision, but Chavan forced them to work for Gaikwad, who faces a challenge from Shiv Sena nominee Rahul Shewale and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena candidate Aditya Shirodkar.
In Thane constituency, Chavan had to meet party leaders, who had decided not to work for NCP nominee Sanjeev Naik. Chavan has succeeded in convincing a large number of party functionaries but some of the party legislators and office bearers continue to keep away from Naik’s campaigning.
The Congress’ decision to withdraw Minister of State for Tribal Development Rajendra Gavit from tribal-dominated Palghar seat in Thane district has been opposed by local leaders. The party’s decision to support the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi’s sitting MP in Palghar seat has not gone down well, as a large number of party leaders blamed the leadership for not taking them into confidence.