State Congress demands action in rebellion in Nashik

Satyajeet and Sudhir Tambe’s actions have left Congress red-faced. Pics/Twitter

The state Congress has asked the high command to take action against its MLC, Dr Sudhir Tambe and his son Satyajeet Tambe, for rebelling in the legislative council polls to be held on January 30.

On Thursday, Dr Tambe, the party's official candidate, chose to not file his nomination, and instead his son Satyajeet entered the fray as an independent. The official candidate was given the AB form, the party's authentication letter, but he did not use it as his son filed his papers minutes before the deadline ended for Nashik graduates' constituency. The development had left the Congress red-faced because it could not set up an alternative candidate.

The Tambes have maintained that they were still in the Congress, and the son sought the Bharatiya Janata Party's support, in addition to the Congress and other MVA partners. The BJP hasn't fielded its candidate and responded positively to Tambe's appeal for support.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Congress left red-faced in Nashik

However, the state Congress president Nana Patole strongly objected to the Tambe family's defiance, calling it a betrayal of the party. "The party will not support Satyajeet. We have also sent a report to the party high command detailing the development and seeking stern action against the Tambes," Patole told mediapersons on Friday.

"The Congress had finalised Dr Tambe (three-time MLC) for the polls, but he did not file the papers. He has betrayed the party," said Patole, accusing the BJP of engineering the turn of events. Patole also blamed the ruling party for creating a rift between the Tambes and Balasaheb Thorat, a senior Congress leader and Satyajeet's maternal uncle. "The BJP has used the fear of action to split the families," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP would take an appropriate decision in the coming days. However, he said there was no point in connecting the BJP to the Congress's internal matter. "The truth will come out soon," he said in Pune, on Friday.

On Thursday, Satyajeet had said that Fadnavis loved him and encouraged young leadership. "I expect Devendra ji to extend support to me,"
he said.

Political circles have been trying to link Satyajeet's book release, which was attended by Fadnavis, who in a lighter vein, had invited the Congress leader to join the BJP because he felt Satyajeet was being wasted despite his good political qualities.

30
Day in January when state legislative council elections will be held