NCP cracks whip on leaders who campaigned against party candidates

Following in the steps of the Congress, which suspended the mayor of Chandrapur and six other leaders, the Nationalist Congress Party issued show-cause notices to four leaders for anti-party activities

Party leaders in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are reining in its rebel leaders who refused to toe the party line during the recently held Lok Sabha elections. The party has sent show-cause notices to four of its leaders who allegedly indulged in anti-party activities.

Pulled up: Notices have been sent to Minister of State for Education Fauzia Khan (above), ex minister Suresh Deshmukh Warpudkar, his son Samsher and the former chief of the party’s Parbhani district unit, Vijay Warpudkar

Notices have been sent to Minister of State for Education Fauzia Khan, ex minister Suresh Deshmukh Warpudkar, his son Samsher and the former chief of the party’s Parbhani district unit, Vijay Warpudkar. The four have been accused of campaigning against the party’s official candidate for Parbhani constituency, Sanjay Deotale, during the first phase of polling on April 10.

The action was taken after receiving reports from other members. “Upon being convinced that you tried to push a nominee of your choice as party’s Lok Sabha candidate, and, later, did not participate in campaigning of the party’s official candidate, the party demands an explanation from you” says the notice, asking for an answer before May 7.

The whip crack comes close on the heels of ally Congress rapping the knuckles of its own members. Earlier last week, the party suspended the mayor of Chandrapur, Sangita Amrutkar, and six other leaders for allegedly working against the party’s candidate in Chandrapur, Sanjay Deotale. The group is considered close to former MP Naresh Puglia, who failed to get a ticket from Chandrapur for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Non cooperation in party
According to party insiders, Khan and the Warpudkars did not campaign wholeheartedly for Vijay Bhamble, who was pitted against Shiv Sena’s Sanjay alias Bandu Jadhav in Parbhani. Initially, Bhamble was leading in the campaign and it was presumed that he might end the Shiv Sena’s juggernaut. But non-cooperation by his party colleagues, along with Congress MLA Ramprasad Kadam Bordikar disturbed equations.

“The notice has been issued at the behest of state unit chief Bhaskar Jadhav,” said a senior office bearer of the NCP.”  

According to another office bearer, “A few more leaders are on the radar and notices to them, too, shall be sent.” The party may also take the issue in its meeting on May 10, which will be chaired by party chief Sharad Pawar.

Meanwhile, all eyes are back on the Congress, which is now expected to take action against the MLA Kadam Bordikar, who defied party orders and openly campaigned against Bhamble.

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