AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, MPCC president Nana Patole and Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat are being blamed for failing to keep the party intact during the legislative council elections, owing to which there was large-scale cross-voting. Based on the votes for Shiv Sena and NCP nominees, it appears that at least seven Congress legislators cross-voted in blatant violation of the whip issued by Thorat.Patole says all the “traitors” have been identified, but no action has yet been initiated against them.
It appears to be a redux of the 2022 legislative council elections. Congress then had enough votes to ensure its nominee Chandrakant Handore’s victory, but he failed to win owing to cross-voting. Then AICC set up a committee to probe the causes behind the cross-voting and identify those who defied the party whip. All legislators who indulged in cross-voting were identified, but no action was taken in two years. While Handore was nominated to Rajya Sabha, Patole and Thorat said it was up to AICC to take a decision on those legislators.
Large-scale cross-voting from both Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was expected in the recent council elections, but to the shock and surprise of all, not only were the votes of NCP and Sena intact but their nominee also secured more votes than their strength. At a juncture when Congress’s performance in Lok Sabha and graduates and teachers council elections was impressive, the outcome of the legislative council polls has raised doubts over Patole and Thorat’s ability to keep the party intact.
Blow after masterstroke
NCP’s low-profile master strategist Sanjay Khodke has missed the bus after Ajit Pawar nominated former deputy collector Shivajirao Garje for the legislative council. An administrative officer in the department of agriculture, Khodke was associated with the then junior home minister Manikrao Thakre, and with former home ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and R R Patil for a prolonged period. When Patil resigned from the cabinet after the 26/11 attacks, Khodke, too, quit his govt job and joined NCP as a general secretary.
Khodke’s unique selling point was that he had in-depth knowledge of all 48 LS and 288 assembly constituencies, particularly the caste combinations. Even Congress and Shiv Sena used to seek information from him on caste equations in certain constituencies.
When Ajit Pawar distanced himself from Sharad Pawar, there was a question mark over where Khodke’s loyalty lay and ultimately, he decided to join hands with the former.
It was Khodke who drafted the voting strategy for the legislative council polls, and identified the Congress legislators who were willing to change their loyalty and vote in favour of either NCP or Sena. His action plan worked-not only NCP but Sena candidates, too, won the elections. Now, Khodke will have to wait for a long time for an assembly or council nomination.