NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Nagpur Congress president Vikas Thakre demanding recognition of his nominated membership of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
A Division Bench of Justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Arun Upadhyay refused to admit Mr. Thakre’s petition challenging the election of Congress leader Kishor Jichkar as a nominated member of the NMC.
Mr. Jichkar’s nomination was supported by a rebel Congress group, which had revolted against the party’s city unit and appointed its own leader of Opposition in the NMC earlier this year.
Seventeen of the 29 Congress corporators were recognised as the original Congress group by the Nagpur Divisional Commissioner. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had also endorsed Tanaji Wanve’s appointment as the leader of Opposition by rejecting the city Congress’s petition challenging it.
Mr. Thakre had alleged in his petition that his nomination to the NMC was the legal one as the rebel group was yet to be recognised by the Divisional Commissioner when he had filed his nomination. After Thursday’s ruling, he plans to move the Supreme Court.
Both claim BJP hand
“This is the BJP’s conspiracy to divide the Congress. They are scared that I would expose their scandals on the floor of the House. If this is allowed, everywhere people will walk away from the party and form their separate groups. The party will take action against the rebel group,” he told The Hindu.
The rebel group, however, alleged that the revolt was forced because of Mr. Thakre and his mentor and former Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar’s “high-handedness”.
“Under Mr. Thakre’s leadership, the party performed dismally in the NMC election earlier this year, and he lost his own seat. He was given a ticket to contest the Assembly election and lost, but still continues to be the city chief. How can one person be allowed to have a complete say in matters when he failed in elections continuously?” a corporator from the rebel group asked.
He said, “Mr. Thakre has a secret understanding with the BJP and has weakened the Nagpur Congress. Our revolt has kept the real Congress alive in Nagpur.”