Mumbai: An audio clip of former chief minister and president of the Maharashtra state Congress party, as per media reports, of Ashok Chavan’s conversation with a party worker in Chandrapur has gone viral and is likely to get him in trouble.
Discussing the candidature for Chandrapur, Chavan is purportedly heard saying, “I am contemplating resignation, since nobody seems to be listening to me.” He, however, covers his tracks, saying it is the responsibility of leaders to boost the morale of workers.
When asked about the clip, Chavan claimed, “I am yet to hear that clip.” Further, he said, it was not the question of putting out a private conversation in public domain, it was more of an internal matter. But he said, “There is an issue in the Chandrapur outfit of our party. It is controversial and party workers are upset.”
He conceded that there was discontent in the party regarding the choice of Vinayak Bangade as Congress candidate for the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat. Vinayak Bangde of Congress is pitted against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hansraj Ahir in Chandrapur. Many party workers are upset about Bangde’s nomination.
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.
Chavan did not need this new controversy, as he was just tiding over the previous one of Navinchandra Bandivadekar, whose candidature is now confirmed. Bandivadekar’s selection was under scanner after news of his association with right-wing Hindu outfit, Sanatan Sanstha broke recently. The Congress has made it clear that Bandivadekar is not associated with the Sanstha. Asked about his purported comment that he felt like resigning, Chavan said, “I have not made any public announcement.”