27 April,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Naseem Khan, State Congress working president
Maharashtra Congress working president Arif Naseem Khan has resigned as the party's star campaigner because neither his party nor MVA have fielded representatives from the Muslim community in the Lok Sabha polls. Khan is also upset because the Congress ignored him for the Mumbai North Central constituency.
The Congress had one or two Muslim candidates in the fray till 2019, but this year there are none. The Congress has one constituency - Mumbai North - still without a candidate, but a Muslim is unlikely to put up a good fight there, whereas North Central is said to be favourable ground because of a large Muslim presence of 6.50 lakh.
Khan's office said his candidature was decided two months ago but changed on Thursday. Khan said in a letter to the party high command, "Canvassing as a star campaigner, I have no explanation to offer to Muslims about the community not getting representation at any of 48 seats the Congress and MVA are contesting in Maharashtra. I don't want to campaign because I can't answer their questions."
On Thursday, the Congress had declared the city party chief, and four-time MLA, Varsha Gaikwad as its official candidate from North Central. Other than Arif Naseem Khan, Bhai Jagtap was also an aspirant. Muslims, who have a larger presence here, expected a ticket for Khan, a former MLA from Chandivli, which falls under the North Central constituency.
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In a letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Khan said he will not campaign for party candidates for remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls and is also resigning from the state Congress campaign committee.
The former state minister said the MVA, of which the Congress is a key constituent, has not nominated a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats.
"I have no answers to Muslims and their organisations in Maharashtra raising such issues [not fielding candidate from the community]. Therefore, I have decided not to campaign for the party during the Lok Sabha elections 2024," he said.
