Differences in Maharashtra Cong. over election of district chiefs

Many oppose idea where recorded call is made to dist. panel members seeking their choice for district president post

While the statements of Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole are keeping the political temperature rising externally, internal disagreements in the party’s State unit have also escalated. Interestingly, all State leaders have joined hands to pressure State unit in-charge H.K. Patil to drop the idea of calling in recorded voice to party workers asking them to suggest their choice for district president posts. Three days ago, the party held a meeting of all its senior leaders to discuss the strategy for the coming polls to zilla parishads and municipal corporations. In that meeting, all senior leaders asked Mr. Patil to cancel this new experiment, claiming it would damage the party organisation and has a danger of popping up undeserving individuals at the helm. Senior leaders including Mr. Patole, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Ashok Chavan and majority of others have voiced concern against this experiment and a heated discussion took place in the party meeting. “It was decided ultimately to complete this exercise within next 15 days and if that does not happen, then it will be deferred,” a senior party leader privy to discussions told The Hindu.