The post-defeat infighting within the Congress seems to be escalating after yet another young leader from the party targeted a senior leader and former minister Naseem Khan over a show-cause notice served to him.
The leader, Suraj Thakur, of Mumbai Congress said, “I was served a show-cause notice because I was interested in contesting the election from Chandivli assembly seat from where Naseem Khan contested and lost twice. I am accused of anti-party activities without any evidence. Moreover, I am an AICC delegate to whom the state unit cannot serve a notice. But under pressure from Naseem Khan, I am being served a notice.”
Thakur was reportedly served a show-cause notice based on a complaint against him by an associate of Khan. According to sources close to Khan, the notice is a routine procedure in the party. “If a complaint is received against a person, it is natural for the leadership to seek a reply. There is nothing unusual in it,” said a leader close to Khan.
Thakur claimed that he is being targeted for being a popular Congress face in Chandivli. He is also the second leader who has been served the notice. In Jalna district of Marathwada, speaking to reporters, Congress candidate and former MLA Kailas Gorantyal, too, attacked the state leadership. Gorantyal said that throughout the election he did not get any support from the state leadership.
Two days ago, Nagpur Central Congress candidate Bunty Shelke was served a similar notice by the party for terming Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole as RSS agent. Shelke told The Indian Express that he has replied to the notice but remains firm on his statement.
“I am a loyal servant of Rahul Gandhi and he has told us to not be afraid of anything. I am simply following the order. His (Patole’s) actions are against the spirit of Congress workers and therefore I have called him RSS agent,” Shelke told The Indian Express. He added that he remains a loyal worker of the Congress and he will continue to oppose anyone who is trying to destroy the Congress.
“I have never spoken about the anti-party activities of Nana Patole, but it is time to speak up,” he said, adding that he will present all the evidences.
