While Shiv Sena on Friday issued ticket to its sitting MP from Ramtek Krupal Tumane, the Congress on the other hand was seen facing internal rift. With names of former minister Nitin Raut and Kishore Gajbhiye being discussed for the seat, supporters of Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik demanded a ticket for him and sought All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi’s intervention urging him to declare Wasnik’s name.
A section of Congress leaders addressing a press conference in the city on Friday, said the common Congress workers of the region want Wasnik to contest the election from Ramtek. Secretary; Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee; Mujeeb Pathan, Nana Gawande, chief of Umrer assembly constituency Sanjay Meshram and veteran Congress leader Baburao Tidke said the atmosphere will be in favour of Congress if Wasnik contests from Ramtek. Hence, honouring the Congress workers’ demands, AICC President Rahul Gandhi should direct Mukul Wasnik to fight from Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency, they said.
However, supporters of District Congress President Rajendra Mulak and MLA Sunil Kedar were not present at the press conference giving enough indications that all was not well within the Congress. Wasnik supporters argued that a large number of developmental works were carried out in the constituency when Wasnik represented Ramtek. Wasnik has good public relation in every village of the constituency.
If the party gives ticket to some new candidate, there would be very little time for campaigning. However, that would not be the difficulty if Wasnik is given the ticket, the Congress leaders contended. While saying so, the Congress leaders said they expressed their desire but if the party gives ticket to some other candidate that decision will also be acceptable to them.
Takshasheela Waghdhare, Chandrapal Chouksey, Kunda Raut, Nanda Parate, Baba Ashtankar, Bhimrao Kadu, Prasanna Tidke, Udaysinh Yadav, Yogita Itankar, Naresh Barve, Balu Ingole and others were present at the press conference.