After the Winter Session of the state legislature got over, some factions in the Congress have once again become active to unsettle chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. A senior leader from the party told this newspaper that some chief ministerial aspirants from the party have fuelled the latest drive against the CM.
“There is a section of MLAs who are unhappy with the CM, who had claimed that there will be expansion and reshuffle of the state cabinet before the Winter Assembly Session. However, that did not happen and the CM on the last day of the session said that he had never set any deadline for the Cabinet expansion. Some MLAs who were hoping to get a chance in the Cabinet were upset with this and some leaders, including Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakre, are fuelling dissident legislators,” the Congress leader said.
According to sources, 10-15 Congress MLAs have planned to visit Delhi to meet the high command in the first week of January. As part of the strategy, they will not go together, but meet the high command individually. However, all of them will complain about the CM and seek a change of leadership in the state.
Mr Thakre has organised a rally on December 28 on the Somaiya Ground in Mumbai on the occasion of the party’s foundation day. However, the move is being seen as the show of strength and to establish himself for the highest responsibility in the state.
“Mr Thakre and his close associates have been mobilising people from across the state for the rally. They are even giving the impression to people that Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address the rally. It is highly unlikely that she will come for the rally, but her name is being used to gather the crowd. MPCC chief supporters expect that the success of this rally will boost his chances amidst other aspirants,” the senior leader said.
Even during the Winter Session, a section in Congress tried to corner the CM over the issue of Shivaji Park. Some Congress leaders even met the high command and conveyed that the CM was soft towards Shiv Sena and his decision to allow Bal Thackeray’s funeral at Shivaji Park has sent bad message among the minority community.