Parties await leadership change in city units Sena, NCP, MNS and Congress city units wait for new city chiefs

PUNE: The city units of political parties, including the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and the MNS, are all set to get new heads as state leaders are going all out to revive their respective parties after the humiliating defeat in the civic polls.

Shiv Sena city unit chief Vinayak Nimhan and Nationalist Congress Party city chief MP Vandana Chavan had resigned from their respective posts because of poor performance of their parties. However, their party leaders are yet to take decision on their resignations.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut has given a clear indication that Nimhan's resignation would be accepted and that the party would get a new city chief. Raut, who was in the city on Tuesday, held a closed door meeting with senior party leaders to discuss who should be the new Sena city chief.

"I will be with the party, but I don't want to continue as city chief as I have personal responsibilities to fulfil," Nimhan said.

Sources in NCP said Ajit Pawar held talks with party corporators and one of Ajit's supporters might take over as NCP's city chief. "The issue is sensitive as the party is divided over Chavan's resignation," said a senior NCP leader.

Voices against Congress city chief Ramesh Bagwe are increasing and a section of city leaders has written to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan asking him to replace Bagwe. Senior party corporator Aba Bagul said, "The party will be wiped off in Pune if there is no change in the city unit". However, Bagwe claimed that there were no differences in the party.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has asked its leader in Pune to bounce back into action. Thackeray's close aide Anil Shidore said the party chief was taking interest in Pune's issues as he was keen on its development. However, former corporators are insisting that Thackeray must replace Ajay Shinde as city unit chief.