Ashish slams MPCC chief for ‘ignoring’ party workers

NAGPUR: Former BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who joined Congress some months ago, on Monday slammed Balasaheb Thorat, the president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). Talking to media here, Deshmukh said, “Ever since assembly elections have been declared, Thorat has been moving around only in his constituency Sangamner. Is he the MPCC president or Sangamner chief.”
Deshmukh is the second Congress leader from the district to slam senior party leaders. City Congress chief Vikas Thakre on Sunday had openly blasted Delhi leaders for giving tickets to sycophants instead of party workers, who work hard in the constituency.
Further slamming the state party leadership, Deshmukh said, “Ever since polls have been announced, leaders of all political parties are touring the states and reaching out to distant villages. But Thorat and his five executive presidents are nowhere to be seen. They are just content with getting party tickets.”
“Lot of NCP leaders have left the party. Pawar is also not well and he is quite old. In spite of this he has been meeting party workers since weeks. Wherever necessary, he visits the area and guides the activists. Congress and NCP have struck a pre-poll alliance. Congress leaders should take a leaf out of Pawar’s book,” said Deshmukh.
Turning to BJP, Deshmukh said that its rule had been a disaster for the state. “Many industries have closed down due to the slowdown. Leave alone creation of new jobs, youngsters have lost their existing jobs. The condition of farmers is pitiable. It is the need of the hour for Congress and NCP to oust the BJP-Shiv Sena government,” he added.
Sources close to Deshmukh said that he has sought a ticket from Congress but has got no positive response so far. City Congress leaders said that the only possible seat available for him may be chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s constituency Nagpur South-West where Deshmukh has negligible chance of winning.