Anyone who betrays party won’t be spared: Maharashtra Congress chief

Nana Patole’s tough stance came after Maharashtra Congress suspended state youth leader Satyajeet Tambe for six years for violating the party’s discipline.

Nana Patole said that the Congress will form the next government in Maharashtra and at the Centre (File)

By Ritvick Arun Bhalekar: No one who betrays the party will be spared, warned Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole in an exclusive interview to Mumbai Tak. The party is not anyone’s private property and everyone will be dealt with firmly and sternly, Patole said about the recent fiasco over Maharashtra Legislative Council polls.

Patole’s tough stance came after Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) suspended state youth leader Satyajeet Tambe for six years.

A letter was issued stating that action was taken against Tambe for violating the party’s discipline by filing an independent candidature in the upcoming biennial elections to the state’s legislative council.

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For the first time, the Maharashtra Congress chief revealed that two blank AB forms were given to Tambe to decide whether he or his father, sitting MLC Dr Sudhir Tambe, would file the nomination for the seat. However, he was misguided by the Tambe family, who said that they would finalise a name depending on the candidate fielded by the BJP.

Dr Sudhir Tambe opted out at the last minute without informing party leaders, while Satyajeet alleged that, despite demands from party workers, he was sidelined by the party – a charge Patole dismissed.

Meanwhile, the Congress along with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress party (NCP) announced their support for Shubhangi Patil, another independent candidate and ex-BJP party worker from the Nashik seat.

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Giving out a clear message to the senior leaders, Patole clarified that the party would not entertain the institutionalisation of the party. It is high time the party got rid of such betrayers who got so much from the party, he said.

“NCP chief Sharad Pawar has a right to advise us but the final decisions in our party are only taken by our high command and party leaders. No one can interfere with the functioning of our system,” Patole asserted.

Patole also said that Congress will form the next government in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

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