Nagpur: The nasty affairs being run in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) at almost all fronts seem to have done a good cause for one entity if not to the citizens. The dithering and drifting Congress party in city showed the signs of unity when it staged demonstrations at the Headquarters of NMC and protested against the administration over a host of issues of public interest. The next year’s election to the civic body could also be the reason for the show of unity. The message of Congress unity turned widespread within hours and the talk of the NMC poll turning interesting made the rounds.
The In-Charge of Nagpur District and City and MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, in the past week, had held a closed door meeting of office-bearers of various units of the party. The meeting in one voice had expressed its concern over the inactiveness of many of senior party leaders and its effects on the next NMC poll. The closed door meeting was skipped by former minister Anees Ahmed and the lone party MLA from the district Sunil Kedar. The absence of the two leaders has sparked a kind of speculation with a section of partymen saying the two leaders were not invited and other section saying the invitations were extended but the personal work forced them to skip the meeting.
Whatever may be reasons, the agitation at the NMC HQ on Thursday witnessed steady stream of workers and leaders of different groups coming together. Those prominently present include Praful Gudadhe Patil, Sandeep Sahare, Abha Pande, Dr Prashant Chopra, Arun Davre and others. At the same time, the enthusiasm of hundreds of workers and other leaders namely Deepak Kapse, Sanjay Dubey, Zulfikar Bhutto, Tanaji Vanve, Harish Gwalvanshi, Prashant Dhavad, Sanjay Mahakalkar, Anil Pande, Umakant Agnihotri et al under the leadership of City Congress President Vikas Thakre was impressive. The united show clearly hinted that the internal bickering among the partymen was thing of the past. All the leaders and workers were demanding in one voice action against the guilty officials and office-bearers of NMC during the over 9-year rule of BJP.
Vikas Thakre has issued an ultimatum to the NMC Administration that if the wrong is not corrected by July 25, an intense agitation will be launched from July 26.
Hazare demands not to sideline Anil Pande:
The Congress Corporator Purshottam Hazare has demanded the party high command to take chief of Rajiv Gandhi Vichar Manch Anil Pande along in the next NMC polls. Sidelining of Pande could cost many Congress candidates dear in the election. Pande is an Independent Corporator and is reportedly planning to field a group of 2-3 independents from each of the Prabhags. The independents undoubtedly slice the votes of Congress. Sources said that the Congress is willing to concede only the candidature of Pande but he is demanding candidature for his six more supporters. This equation looks impossible. Hence Pande is in touch with the leaders of Third Front and if the talks fail to break the ice then he may field his supporters as independents.
Many Congress Corporators in exodus mood:
Sources said that the present 4-6 Congress Corporators are cherishing to contest the next NMC election under BJP banner. These Corporators mainly belong to Central and South Nagpur. Some are willing to be in the fray on Congress ticket as well. A former BSP Corporator seems to be in the Congress queue. Now the only wait for all the political parties is the carving out of the structure of Prabhags and also the outcome of a pending case in the High Court in this regard.
