Congress fails to stem rebellion in Pune

Pune: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has failed to pacify rebels in the city. On the other hand, the Maha Yuti has succeeded in dissuading aspirants from contesting.

The three Congress rebels in Kasba Peth, Parvati and Shivajinagar will contest an independents. Congress leaders Kamal Vyavahare and Mukhtar Shaikh filed their nominations from the Kasba Peth segment. The party has re-nominated sitting MLA Ravindra Dhangekar from the constituency.

On the last day of withdrawal of nominations, MVA leaders met the rebels and asked them to withdraw from the fray. However, except for Mukhtar Shaikh, the other rebels did not relent.

Vyavahare switched off her mobile phone and was not reachable. Therefore, it became clear that she would contest.

An MVA delegation met Aba Bagul, who filed his nomination from the Parvati seat. NCP (SP) leaders connected him with their leader Sharad Pawar on mobile phone. But Bagul was not in a mood to withdraw.

NCP (SP) rebel and Manoj Jarange Patil’s supporter Sachin Taware also did not withdraw his nomination from the Parvati segment. Jarange Patil announced his decision to not contest the polls. Still, Taware insisted on contesting the poll.

Congress rebel Manish Anand refused to back off in the Shivajinagar Assembly segment. He will also contest as an independent. Thus, the MVA leadership failed to stem the rebellion.