City MP cuts a sorry figure as both party men and NCP oppose his leadership
City MP cuts a sorry figure as both party men and NCP oppose his leadership
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Losing his clout: Suresh Kalmadi has been facing snubs of late. File pic
Kalmadi's leadership and consequently, Congress' prospects in the upcoming municipal elections in 2012, looks far from promising as his party colleagues -- who have not dithered from vehemently opposing his leadership -- are determined to give him a bumpy ride. Many of them have already expressed their displeasure with his leadership in so many words though 'off record'. "It is high time the Congress high command stops experimenting with Kalmadi," is the general refrain.
The Congress and the NCP, the ruling coalition in the PMC house, do not see to eye-to-eye, which was evident when Sharad Pawar's party voted in favour of BJP candidate Ganesh Bidkar for the post of Standing Committee Chariman to pip Congress candidate Shankar Pawar.u00a0u00a0
Of the 14 seats in a ward-level election, the NCP won five seats, which was two more than the Congress. Many of his party members are not shying away from blaming Kalmadi for the tumble in fortunes.
Just three days ago, noted Dalit leader Namdeo Dhasal opposed strongly the inauguration of the Matoshree Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar Udyan by Kalmadi owing to his ignominious public image.
Damage control
These failures, however, have not deterred Kalmadi who in a move to bury the hatchet with his arch rival former MLA Balasaheb Shivarkar -- reportedly close to former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh -- sent him a box of pedhas at the Congress Bhawan.u00a0u00a0
Shivarkar, who drew much flak from his acolytes for accepting the sweets, said: "It was neither a compromise nor a compulsion, though I have had both bad and sad experience in the past in the city unit of the Congress. I believe in group leadership for the party to win the upcoming municipal election with a majority."
Kalmadi's archrivals MLC Mohan Joshi, Ulhas Pawar and Anant Gadgil refrained from making making any comments, though they have shown their opposition to him in the past.u00a0
"Kalmadi and other Congress leaders are like frogs, who come together only during the election period," said Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal. "Punekars will teach Kalmadi and company a lesson in this election. The Congress defeat will be because of Kalmadi's alleged involvement in CWG corruption and the ongoing CBI inquiry against him."
The Other Side
Abhay Chhajed, president of the city unit of Congress, said it was wrong to criticise a leader just because he is undergoing an inquiry. "There is nothing wrong if he is involved in the election process. I have received orders from the party high-command that everyone should be involved in the election campaign and we are on the right track to win," he said.
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