Maharashtra: Balasaheb Thorat resigns as Congress Legislative Party leader
In a major setback for the Congress in Maharashtra, its legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat resigned from his post on Tuesday, The Indian Express reported. The development comes a day after his letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge surfaced, in which he accused the party's state chief Nana Patole of conspiring against him. Thorat also claimed that he was not comfortable working under Patole.
Why does this story matter?
- The latest infighting in the Congress comes days after its Bharat Jodo Yatra concluded.
- Marred with repeated poll defeats, the party experienced various internal conflicts.
- The major schism among its leaders was witnessed in Rajasthan in September 2022—when CM Ashok Gehlot's loyalists aggressively opposed the move to hand over the CM seat to Sachin Pilot. They alleged Pilot attempted to overthrow Gehlot in 2020.
Faced humiliation from Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole: Thorat
Thorat cited his discord with the state party chief as the reason for his resignation from the post, per TIE. "He sent his resignation along with the letter he had sent to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge," TIE reported, quoting party sources. The letter reportedly mentioned that Thorat faced humiliation from Patole. It also alleged that Patole made statements against his family members in public.
How did the controversy begin?
Thorat's nephew, Satyajeet Tambe, recently contested as an independent in the Nashik Legislative Council election and won. The Congress had nominated Tambe's father, Sudhir Tambe, but the father-son duo decided against it. Tambe alleged that despite alerting the Congress state chief of his plans to run as an independent, a deliberate conspiracy was devised to discredit his uncle Thorat, according to The Indian Express.
Patole disbanded Ahmednagar district committee
According to NDTV, Patole disbanded Congress's district committee in Ahmednagar on January 26 due to "anti-party activity." He had asserted that some of its members allegedly ran campaigns for Tambe rather than the party nominee. Thorat claimed that during the recent MLC polls, rumors were propagated linking him and his family to the incident.
Pained over politics against me: Thorat
"I am pained by the politics that happened over the seat. I have conveyed my feelings to the party high command," Thorat said while referring to the Legislative Council seat elections. "They alleged that I was heading to the BJP. I am a Congressman and will always remain so. We will take appropriate decisions about it at the party level," he added.
Thorat's letter to Congress president alleges being sidelined
Thorat said in his letter to Kharge that Patole was sidelining and humiliating him, reported TIE. He also alleged that the whole Tambe incident was deliberately exaggerated rather than quelled. Thorat also stated that he was targeted at party meetings and that working under Patole's leadership was tough.
Maharashtra Congress chief Patole denied allegations
Meanwhile, Patole denied that such a letter was written by Thorat. On Tuesday, he also retaliated against Thorat, claiming that he had never engaged in such dirty politics as claimed by Thorat and his nephew, who earlier also blamed Patole for his ouster from Congress.
Infighting in Congress despite revival moves
After a string of electoral failures, the Congress party appeared to be on the mend with its nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra and Himachal Assembly election victory. However, infighting among its state leaders is making things difficult. The party witnessed the worst political crisis in Rajasthan when Gehlot's adherents objected to the decision to select Pilot for the CM post during the party presidential elections.
