Nagpur: In a fresh twist to the political contest for Ramtek seat, senior Congress leader Sunil Kedar has openly backed the Independent candidate Rajendra Mulak, claiming the move was meant to "teach a lesson" to sitting MLA Ashish Jaiswal "who aligned with chief minister Eknath Shinde's faction, betraying Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray".
Kedar's defiant stance has added fuel to an already tense stand-off between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with implications for alliance unity in the high-stakes November 20 election.
Former minister and prominent Congress leader Rajendra Mulak, who prepared to contest from Ramtek for the past few years, filed his nomination as an independent after the seat was allotted to Shiv Sena (UBT) under the MVA's electoral arrangement. Mulak's decision to contest independently came after Thackeray fielded Vishal Barbate as the official candidate of Shiv Sena (UBT). In response, Congress suspended Mulak for six years. But Kedar and local Congress MP Shyamkumar Barve have voiced support for Mulak.
In a recent campaign speech, Kedar clarified that his support for Mulak's independent bid stemmed from a desire to punish Jaiswal for his perceived betrayal. Jaiswal, who was previously a staunch Thackeray supporter, joined the Shinde faction aligning himself with the ruling BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Kedar framed Mulak's candidacy as a means to challenge Jaiswal and uphold the respect of Thackeray, suggesting that Jaiswal's actions crossed a line.
"We will teach Jaiswal a lesson," Kedar declared, defending his support for Mulak. "Those who turned their backs on Uddhav Thackeray need to understand the consequences. Let there be no doubt about our loyalty to Thackeray. We are with him today and will continue to stand by him in the future," he said.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have voiced their displeasure with Congress, especially with Kedar's endorsement of Mulak's candidacy. Senior Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav publicly accused Kedar of "stabbing Thackeray in the back" by supporting a rebel candidate.
Barbate expressed disappointment over what he saw as a breach of trust within the MVA and voiced frustration with Congress leaders. "We had hoped Congress would prioritise the strength of the alliance," Barbate said adding, "Instead, they have thrown their weight behind a rival. This is a breach of trust and goes against the spirit of unity that the MVA was supposed to uphold."
Barbate further noted that the Shiv Sena (UBT) was allotted just one seat among 32 constituencies in Vidarbha's eastern region, making their position in Ramtek crucial for the party's standing in the area.
Despite appeals from within the MVA, including leaders like Nana Patole and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, senior Congress leaders such as Mukul Wasnik have yet to take decisive action to resolve the rift. Barbate suggested that this inaction exacerbated the situation and weakened the alliance's cohesion in the region.
Observers note that the inability to maintain a cohesive front could impact the MVA's effectiveness in Vidarbha, a stronghold for BJP in recent elections.