Anti-party acts: Patole warns of ‘on the spot postmortem’

Nagpur: Issuing a veiled warning to leaders and workers to refrain from anti-party activities, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole on Thursday said those found indulging in harming the interest of the party would face “on the spot postmortem” followed by instant action.
Addressing a meeting called at Devadia Bhavan in view of the forthcoming local body and civic polls, Patole, in an obvious reference to suspended general secretary Ashish Deshmukh, said indiscipline by anyone would not be tolerated. The MPCC chief also exhorted party leaders and workers to start poll preparations.
Slamming the BJP for splurging crores of rupees on holding C20 summit in the city, Patole said they stole power to illuminate the streets. “The BJP wasted this taxpayers’ money, which could have been utilised for the welfare of citizens. The BJP is acting like a pickpocket,” he said.
Accompanied by former Union minister Vilas Muttemwar, Congress city chief Vikas Thakre and MLC Abhijit Wanjari, Patole, MLA from Sakoli, flayed those who skipped the meeting organized to discuss the strategy for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, which have been delayed for over a year.
“During 2017 polls, many were found to have engaged in activities which were not in the interest of the party. This time, instant action would be taken against such persons without going through the formalities of issuing notice, etc. Even those indirectly helping the BJP would not be spared. All leaders and workers must regularly attend the party meetings. Those turning their back would face disciplinary action,” he warned.
Patole was referring to the likes of former guardian minister Nitin Raut, ex-minister Satish Chaturvedi, former corporators Tanaji Wanve, Prafulla Gudadhe and Narendra Jichkar, who skipped the meeting.
The rivalry between Raut and Muttemwar camps is known across the political circles, and both sides usually skip each other’s functions, unless some big Congress leader was present, say party workers.
Patole also accused the state government of violating democratic practices by not holding civic elections for over a year. “The BJP is apprehensive of its defeat. Our workers must take advantage of the situation and should be ready for the polls, as and when those would be conducted. You should not sever contact with the public. You need to fight the opposition in a freedom struggle mode to win,” he said.
Asking party cadres to fight the polls without expecting any political posts like mayor, standing committee chairman etc in return, Patole said they should visit every ward, meet all voters and explain about the Congress.
Muttemwar said just raising slogans like ‘Rahul Gandhi tum aage badho’ would not suffice and the workers need to be on the field during the polls. “Today, we are witnessing a good number of workers and leaders just because Patole is here. Else, many of them skip the party’s regular events. Do not forget that AB forms would be distributed from Devadia Bhavan only,” he said.