The state Congress unit seems to be upset with the attitude of the NCP’s state leadership. Senior ministers of the party decided to express their discontent to the high command in a meeting held at Sahyadri guesthouse on Wednesday night. AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, Mohan Prakash, has been told to convey their displeasure to the party high command about NCP leaders.
The harsh criticism that came from the NCP during the Sangli Municipal Corporation election campaign has disturbed the Congress. The issue was discussed in the pre-Cabinet meet of the party on Wednesday. All ministers of the party raised objection over the attitude shown by the NCP leaders in the Sangli elections.
Keeping in view the sentiments of the ministers, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan called a meeting with them the same night. Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakre was also present at the meeting.
“The discussion was intense, as everybody was very upset with the NCP leaders. They have crossed all the limits. They were very harsh with their comments and made personal remarks. As a result,
each of us protested against the recent showdown that occurred recently,” confirmed a senior minister.
Some of the ministers also expressed their opinion of going it alone in the upcoming general elections, which are due next year. Mr Thakre was given the responsibility of expressing their anger and sentiments to the party high command, another minister said.
Meanwhile, relief and rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam and Mr Thakre were applauded for their hard work, which resulted in big victories at the Sangli elections and Yeotmal bypolls respectively. Mr Kadam, who hails from the Sangli district, and Mr Thakre, who belongs to Amravati, had played vital roles in these elections.
Leaders of the NCP made serious allegations and personal remarks against many senior Congress leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi.
Agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe, water conservation minister Nitin Raut, minority affairs minister Arif Naseem Khan, minister of state for home Satej Patil and minister of state for finance Rajendra Mulak were all present for the meeting that lasted more than three hours.