'Haven't made public announcement': Ashok Chavan evades direct comment on 'resignation' audio clip
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Mar 23, 2019, 21:33 ISTHighlights
- Ashok Chavan purportedly heard expressing willingness to resign as Maharashtra Congress chief
- Purported conversation with a party worker over ticket distribution out in public domain
- Chavan evades direct reply when asked at a media conference about the tape and its contents
MUMBAI: A day after the
Jitin Prasada scare in UP
+ , the Congress on Saturday was on the back foot again, this time in Maharashtra.
An audio tape surfaced Saturday where Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan is purportedly heard saying that he wanted to resign as his views on candidate selection were not being heeded by the leadership.
At a press conference here where the Congress and NCP announced their seat-sharing pact in Maharashtra for Lok Sabha elections, Chavan was asked about the audio clip.
Saying he was not aware of such a tape, Chavan conceded that there was discontent in the party regarding the choice of Vinayak Bangade as Congress candidate for the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat.
"There is discontent over Chandrapur seat," he said, adding, "These are private conversations between me and my party workers. I have not heard the audio clip you are talking about."
However when specifically asked about him wanting to resign, heard in the purported clip, Chavan said "I have not made any public announcement."
In the audio clip which went viral, a party worker named Rajurkar from Chandrapur is heard complaining about the choice of candidate when the party is sure to win in Chandrapur.
Chavan is heard telling him to speak to Mukul Wasnik, the Congress's Central Election Committee head.
"Nobody is listening to me and I am in a mood to resign," Chavan is purportedly heard saying further.
He is also heard telling Rajurkar to ask Bangade not to contest. In the end he is heard asking Rajurkar to share Bangade's contact number.
(With inputs from PTI)
An audio tape surfaced Saturday where Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan is purportedly heard saying that he wanted to resign as his views on candidate selection were not being heeded by the leadership.
At a press conference here where the Congress and NCP announced their seat-sharing pact in Maharashtra for Lok Sabha elections, Chavan was asked about the audio clip.
Congress-NCP announce seat-sharing pact in Maharashtra
Addressing a press conference here, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar said 56 parties and organisations have come together to support the alliance to take on the BJP-Shiv Sena combine.
Saying he was not aware of such a tape, Chavan conceded that there was discontent in the party regarding the choice of Vinayak Bangade as Congress candidate for the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat.
"There is discontent over Chandrapur seat," he said, adding, "These are private conversations between me and my party workers. I have not heard the audio clip you are talking about."
However when specifically asked about him wanting to resign, heard in the purported clip, Chavan said "I have not made any public announcement."
In the audio clip which went viral, a party worker named Rajurkar from Chandrapur is heard complaining about the choice of candidate when the party is sure to win in Chandrapur.
Chavan is heard telling him to speak to Mukul Wasnik, the Congress's Central Election Committee head.
"Nobody is listening to me and I am in a mood to resign," Chavan is purportedly heard saying further.
He is also heard telling Rajurkar to ask Bangade not to contest. In the end he is heard asking Rajurkar to share Bangade's contact number.
(With inputs from PTI)
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