Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday faced a major setback as over 600 party workers and officials from the Pune city unit resigned. They were protesting the Governor's decision not to grant an MLC post to the party's Pune city president Deepak Mankar.
Notably, on the same day, the Election Commission of India announced the dates for the state assembly election.
Supporters of Mankar gathered at the NCP office in the Narayanpeth area of Pune city on Tuesday evening and held a meeting, where they announced their resignation. This mass resignation includes city vice presidents, assembly constituency chiefs, various cell heads, and party workers.
The city unit had demanded Mankar's appointment to one of the three MLC seats allocated to the party from the Governor's quota. However, the party chose to re-nominate those with existing family connections to politics.
The resigning office-bearers, including city vice presidents, assembly constituency chiefs, and cell heads, also prepared a memorandum to be submitted to party national president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, expressing disappointment and disillusionment. They stated that Mankar had strengthened the party in Pune and deserved the MLC seat, and the snub would weaken the party in future.
The memorandum reads, "We believed Ajit Pawar would provide justice to party workers. However, by denying Deepak Mankar the MLC seat, our trust has been broken." Datta Sagare, Vice President of NCP Pune City, said, "600 party workers resigned from their posts today in protest after Pune City President Deepak Mankar was denied the MLC post from the Governor's quota by our top leadership." "We have resigned from our posts but will remain in the party. We are hopeful that Ajit Pawar will give us justice. In the next two days, Ajit Pawar is expected to come to Pune, and we will hand over our resignation to him. Today, over 600 workers resigned, and the number is expected to rise to 2500," Sagare added.
Nilesh Shinde, another party worker, stated, "We wish our leader Deepak Mankar gets a chance to hold a higher post. He has been working for the party since 2014 and has been in politics for over 40 years. He is capable enough to strengthen the party cadre in Pune, but he has always been denied higher positions." The resigning office-bearers have vowed not to work for the party's alliance partners until Pawar provides a clear assurance.
The Election Commission of India on Tuesday announced that the assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23.
On Tuesday, seven MLCs were sworn in after the government released a list recommending candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Out of seven sworn-in MLCs, three are from the BJP and two each from Shiv Sena and NCP. The NCP nominees include former MLA Chhagan Bhujbal's son Pankaj Bhujbal and Idris Naikwadi. The Shiv Sena nominees are former MLC Manish Kayande and ex-Lok Sabha MP Hemant Patil. The BJP MLCs are its state women's wing chief Chitra Wagh, state general secretary Vikrant Patil, and spiritual leader of the Banjara community Dharmaguru Babusingh Maharaj Rathod.
A total of 12 posts for MLC have been vacant under the Governor's quota since 2021 when Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power.
You may also like
SCO meeting: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif stays silent on Kashmir
'My son has come back': Murdered fan Renukaswamy's father as grandson born
Alastair Cook, Neetu David And AB De Villiers Inducted Into The ICC Hall Of Fame As Class Of 2024
'Stylish' ankle wellies are 'so comfortable and a godsend in wet weather' - and under £20
Diwali BONANZA! Haryana anganwadi workers salary hike announced ahead of festival
YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy summoned for questioning in TDP office attack case
Jagmeet Singh calls for sanctions against Indian diplomats and ban on RSS amid diplomatic row
Ex-Liverpool player names the team to stop Man City - but it's not the Reds
Cabinet approves 3 pc hike in DA of central govt employees
Liverpool's Conor Bradley 'had goosebumps' after setting new Northern Ireland record
Conor McGregor fight date shot down immediately by opponent he called out
UAE: Insurers lost up to more than Dh9 billion in heavy April rains this year
Pakistan calls for expansion of China's Belt and Road Initiative
Rohit Sharma has the responsibility of continuing the reign of 36 years, New Zealand will be tested again.
Remove burn marks from a cooker using 1 simple item - not oven cleaner or vinegar
British influencer dies after falling from 192 meters high Castilla-La Mancha bridge
Why is BCCI preparing to remove Harmanpreet Kaur? 5 big reasons came to light including Team India's defeat.
Every trophy Thomas Tuchel has won as ex-Chelsea boss takes charge of England
Trouble Sleeping? Say Goodbye to Insomnia with These 8 Simple Yet Effective Tips
What could happen if Donald Trump rejects the US election results