Maharashtra: Sena blames Nana Patole for MVA govt’s fall

Blaming Congress leader Nana Patolersquos hasty resignation from the Speakerrsquos post for the MVA governmentrsquos fall last year the Shiv Sena UBT mouthpiece Saamana has advised restraint to the warring leaders from the ally Patole in particular An editorial in the newspaper adds that this is to avoid further damage to their party that Rahul Gandhi has handed good advantage through his Bharat Jodo YatraThe expressions in Saamana are seen as the Senarsquos official views Expressing concerns about infighting in the Congress which has its state unit president Patole and his predecessor Balasaheb Thorat at play the editorial has said burying the hatchet would be in the interest of the party and the situation if not corrected could give the Bharatiya Janata Party muchwanted things on a platterWhile quitting the Congress Legislative Partyrsquos leadership Thorat had accused Patole of unilateralism in running the party affairs and maligning his image in the recent political developments His resignation came after an MLC poll fiasco that ultimately led to a rebel and Thoratrsquos nephew Satyajeet Tambersquos victory in Nashik Patole has said his actions were in tune with the high commandrsquos wish to end nepotism and allinfamily politicsAlso read Mumbai Aaditya Thackerayrsquos challenge to CM for poll fight in Worli lsquochildishrsquo says Shinde campThe Saamana edit said Thoratrsquos anger could be justified because he was the senior most leader who deserved due respect within the party ldquoThorat was the party president before Patole and he worked in coordination with others when the MVA government was in placerdquo it said as it went on explaining the main reason for the governmentrsquos fall in June last yearlsquoNot a mature decisionrsquoldquoThere are several reasons for the governmentrsquos fall but the main reason was the then Speaker Patolersquos hasty resignation Patolersquos decision wasnrsquot clever and mature A series of problems for the MVA government came up thereafter The Speakerrsquos post is very crucial to the alliance government If Patole was there in the Speakerrsquos office the following crisis could have been tackled It could have been much easier to disqualify the defectors rebel Sena MLAs then and there However the Governor did not allow the Speakerrsquos election and that benefited the khokebaaj MLAs and their super power in Delhirdquo it readThe edit wondered how a hardworking Patole was expected to make the party grow while crossing swords with a family Thorat that kept the Congress alive during its critical phases ldquoThe MVA will definitely benefit if Patole takes the party further without intensifying the ongoing tussle Or else the BJP has set its sights on readymade leadership from other parties it said adding that the BJP must be happy seeing Thoratrsquos lsquorevolting posturersquolsquoBe cautious CongressrsquoldquoThe Congress should be cautious in Thoratrsquos case Thorat has Congress blood flowing in his veins but he is angry presently Satyajeet Tambe has said he will not go anywhere If the Congress was clever enough it could have closed the chapter after Satyajeetrsquos victory by discussing it with Thorat But it seems the Congress keeps the flag of ego flying high even after the fall of its fortressrdquo the editorial saidInappropriate criticismThe Congress said Patole had resigned following the party high commandrsquos instructions and called Saamanarsquos comments unwarranted ldquoThe criticism is inappropriate and unwarranted The ally should be respected as alliance dharmardquo said state chief spokesperson Atul LondheldquoPatole did not resign hastily but the then party national president Sonia Gandhi had instructed him to do so The Congress has a decisionmaking process that is respected by all Considering the political situation then the said decision was in the partyrsquos interest It is meaningless to allege that Patolersquos resignation triggered a series of crises for the MVA government There is no relevance to lsquoifs and butsrsquo in politics There could be many other reasons that posed MVA difficultiesrdquo added Londhe in a statementHe said it was within the Congress rights to decide internally ldquoTo say that the decision was wrong and criticise it publically isnrsquot as per the alliance dharmardquo Londhe said further