MUMBAI: Four days after suspending veteran Congress leader Sudhir Tambe over the Nashik graduates constituency nomination scandal, state Congress president Nana Patole on Thursday suspended his son Satyajeet for six years for anti-party activities.On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP decided to support independent candidate Shubhagi Patil for the Nashik seat and Congress nominee Sudhakar Adbele for the Nagpur teachers constituency.Satyajeet, a former state Youth Congress chief, reacted sharply. “My contention is that before suspending me, AICC should have heard me. Throughout my political career, I have relentlessly worked for the party,” he said.The Congress central leadership had backed Sudhir Tambe, who has been representing the Nashik graduates constituency since 2009, again for the election (see box). However, on the last day of filing nomination, Sudhir Tambe did not submit his papers; son Satyajeet did, as an independent candidate.The Congress decision to suspend the Tambes is being viewed as a major setback for veteran Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, who has strongly supported his brother-inlaw Sudhir Tambe and his son for well over 25 years despitestrong opposition from local Congress leaders. There was afeeling that since Satyajeet had worked closely with Rahul Gandhi, he might escape penal action. But the central leadership asked Patole to issue Satyajeet’s suspension order with immediate effect.In the other development, following a meeting of MVA leaders — Patole, NCP’s Jeetendra Awhad and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Ambadas Danve — it was decided to support Shubhangi Patil, formerly of BJP who called on Uddhav Thackeray a few days ago, in Nashik, and Congress’ Sudhakar Adbele in the Nagpur teachers constituency. N G Ganar will be the BJP nominee in Nagpur but the party is yet to decide on Nashik.Balaram Patil will be the MVA candidate in Kokan and Vikram Kale in Aurangabad. “We have unity, MVA will win all five seats,” said Patole.Speaking about the Tambes, a senior Congress leader said it was a foregone conclusion that Satyajeet had made up his mind to contest as an independent if the AICC did not nominate him from Nashik. Now, it appears that since BJP has not fielded a candidate, Fadnavis may announce support to Tambe. A month ago, Fadnavis had showered praise on Satyajeet, saying the powerful and effective leader had been sidelined in Congress, BJP will pick him at an appropriate time.Sudhir Tambe was suspended from Congress soon after the nomination scandal. Former CM Ashok Chavan had said the Tambes were given a blank authorisation form and it was left to them to decide whether father or son would be the official Congress candidate. Surprisingly, neither signed up as Congress candidate.
The Congress on Sunday suspended Sudhir Tambe. (Representational)Mumbai: The Congress on Sunday suspended Sudhir Tambe who didn't file nomination for the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls despite the party mandate and instead got his son Satyajit to enter the fray as an independent in the Nashik Division Graduates constituency.The twist in the upcoming MLC polls in Nashik has left the Congress red-faced. Meanwhile, state Congress president Nana Patole said the party will officially declare its support to one of the contesting Independents (not Satyajit Tambe) on Monday, the last day for the withdrawal of nominations for the January 30 elections.Tariq Anwar, member-secretary of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the All India Congress Committee, issued a release stating Sudhir Tambe has been placed under suspension pending an inquiry against him with the approval of party president Mallikarjun Kharge.Sudhir Tambe said, "I have no comments on this development. I have decided not to speak over the issue for some time." "The stand taken by Congress regarding me is not just. The truth will come out after inquiry. I believe in justice," he tweeted.In an embarrassment for the Congress, Sudhir Tambe withdrew from the contest on Thursday and said his son will be in the fray from the constituency represented by him for the last three terms.In a further setback, Satyajit Tambe filed his nomination as an Independent, while asserting he was with Congress, and at the same time seeking support from the Bharatiya Janata Party.On his part, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis claimed he had no role in the Tambe episode.Mr Fadnavis also said a decision on whether to support Satyajit Tambe would be taken by Maharashtra unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule at an appropriate time.Mr Bawankule had said the party would consider if Satyajit Tambe approached it for support.The last date of withdrawal is January 16. Voting will take place on January 30 and counting on February 2.It is a preferential voting process where the voters have to give their preference of votes to the candidates. No election symbol is used in these elections.Meanwhile, incumbent Revenue Minister in the state government and BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Sunday told reporters if the party asks, efforts will be made to back the Tambe junior.Vikhe Patil, a former Congress leader, is the arch-rival of state Congress legislature leader Balasaheb Thorat, who is related to Sudhir Tambe."If the party (BJP) asks us to work in favour of Satyajit Tambe, we will take efforts to ensure his victory in the MLC elections. As a party worker, we will work to make him victorious," Vikhe Patil said."We have made our decision regarding Tambe already clear. The MVA-backed candidate will win this election for sure," he said.The MVA comprises the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress.Notably, Shubhangi Patil, who joined the BJP a year ago, has filed her nomination from the Nashik division graduates' constituency as an Independent candidate.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comShe met Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday and sought his support for the election.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayPM's Roadshow In Delhi Today Ahead Of Mega BJP Meet
MUMBAI/NASHIK: After the embarassed it suffered over its Nashik division graduates constituency (MLC) polls candidate Sudhir Tambe not filing nomination and his son Satyajeet filing as independent, senior Congress leader on Saturday told TOI that the Tambes had indeed ditched the Congress for petty political gains. "Congress had given blank authorization form to Sudhir Tambe and it was left to him to file nomination papers in his own name or in the name of his son Satyajeet. We were surprised when neither Sudhir nor his son Satyajeet filed the papers as a nominee of Congress," the leader said. Satyajeet Tambe denied the charge, saying the authorization was in the name of his father Sudhir, who decided not to file nomination papers as a Congress candidate. "I am aware of the disclosure made by the senior Congress leader (Ashok Chavan) but it is false. Authorization paper was given in the name of my father, who decided not to contest as a Congress candidate. Then I decided to file nomination papers as an independent," Satyajeet Tambe, a former state Youth Congress president, told TOI. Satyajeet said, "I reiterate I am a loyal Congress worker. My family's association with the party will complete 100 years in 2030. I am contesting the polls as an independent as I could not get the party ticket. However, I have not severed my ties with the party. Party leaders should refrain from pushing me on my candidature to such an extent that it jeopardises my association with the party," he said. The state Congress unit has ruled out the possibility of the party backing Satyajeet Tambe. State Congress general secretary Vinayak Deshmukh has asked the Central party leadership to probe why Sudhir Tambe did not file his nomination. The Tambes are close relatives of Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat. According to their loyalists, there are past precedents of party leaders contesting polls as independents and later returning to the party fold. They said in the 1985 assembly polls, Balasaheb Thorat had fought Sangamner assembly polls as an independent after the party denied his father, Bhausaheb, a ticket. Balasaheb Thorat rejoined the party after winning the election."Similarly, in 2009 Nashik graduates' constituency MLC elections, Sudhir Tambe did not get the party ticket. He contested as independent and won. He too rejoined the party later."
The threat calls were received by the office at 11.25am, 11:32 am, and 12:30 pm.Mumbai: A threat call was received at the office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Maharashtra on Saturday, the Nagpur Police said. An unknown person called thrice and threatened to kill him. He also threatened to blow up the office.The police are investigating the matter after a complaint from Nitin Gadkari's office. "Speech analysis of the caller is being done," Rahul Madane, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comAccording to the police, the threat calls were received by the office at 11.25 am, 11:32 am, and 12:30 pm.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's public outreach office is located at Khamla Chowk, Nagpur, which is about 1 kilometre from his house.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's office in Nagpur received the threat calls. (File)Nagpur, Maharashtra: The office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Maharashtra received two threat calls on Saturday, the Nagpur Police said.According to the police, the threat calls were received by the office at 11.30 am and 11.40 am."Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's office in Nagpur received two threat calls at 11.30 am and 11.40 am," the police said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comAn investigation into the matter is underway.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayShah Rukh Khan Is Back From Dubai
