Increasing disenchantment with MVA partners and resentment within the party over his style of running the party affairs in Maharashtra are the prime reasons for Balasaheb Thorat stepping down.
@prashanthamine
Mumbai: Amidst mounting complaints over his style of running the party affairs in Maharashtra and his inability to extract the pound of flesh for the Congress from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vijay alias Balasaheb Thorat is likely to step down very soon. Speculations have gained momentum after Thorat air-dropped in New Delhi late last night. Since then he has been meeting senior party leaders.
Sources in the Congress argue that the talk of Thorat being replaced as MPCC chief has got to do with the winds of change currently blowing within the party. Sources further pointed out that the party high command recently replaced Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president Eknath Gaikwad with Ashok alias Bhai Jagtap considering the impending elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Thorat did call on Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Satav in New Delhi last night. Sources further disclosed that the two discussed the growing resentment brewing within the party about the raw deal it is receiving in the MVA and his likely stepping down from the party post. Furthermore, party sources added that as per party constitution it was but natural Thorat to step down from one of the posts he held. Thorat is not just the MPCC president, but is also holding the Revenue portfolio in the MVA cabinet.
A change in the state leadership of the party was in the offing ever since the Shiv Sena led MVA came to power in November 2019. Constant differences and resentment in the party at not being taken into confidence while running the MVA government and his (Thorat) holding two posts is what is likely to weigh against him. Sources in the party point out that the Congress has been given secondary status and Congress MLAs are not even getting their MLA Local Area Development Funds (MLA-LADF) allocated promptly.
Sources in the Congress further pointed out that working Congress president Sonia Gandhi had in a recent letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had drawn his attention towards these issues. The impression being gained in party high command in New Delhi is that the MPCC leadership is falling short in its attempts to raise its issues in the MVA.
Although Rajiv Satav is the front-runner, sources argue that Satav is already in-charge of party affairs in Gujarat and hence is unlikely to be considered for the post. Among other contenders for the MPCC post include – Congress minister’s – Yashomati Thakur, Nitin Raut, Sunil Kedar, Vijay Wadettiwar and Legislative Assembly Speaker Nana Patole.
Party sources further argued that besides Satav, former chief minister and current minister for Public Works Ashok Chavan is also in the consideration for the MPCC presidents post. Chavan had earlier been the MPCC president.
