AICC secys for Maha on 6-day state visit to know ground

Congress secretaries in charge of Maharashtra are on a six-day visit to the state to interact with district party chiefs and office-bearers to take stock of the political situation.

In June, the Congress had appointed Sampath Kumar from Telangana, Sonal Patel from Gujarat and Ashish Dua from Haryana as All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries for Maharashtra.

The trio yesterday met district unit chiefs and office-bearers from Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg at Tilak Bhavan, the state unit headquarters in central Mumbai. Today, they have meetings with Mira Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Thane city, Bhiwandi and Ulhasnagar district committees.

Meeting with the party leaders in Mumbai is also scheduled at the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) office in south Mumbai.

Rajan Bhosale, MPCC general secretary in charge of Konkan said the AICC secretaries discussed the prevailing political situation in Konkan.

"They sought suggestions on strengthening the party base in the region. The secretaries were told that Ratnagiri- Sindhudurg districts, which form a Lok Sabha seat was given to Narayan Rane's son.

"(Narayan) Rane was the final word for the party in these two districts. Now that he has defected, he has taken away whatever little the party had in these areas," Bhosale said.

"State and central leaders should devote more time to Konkan region and all appointments on the district committees should be made on time," he added.

Bhosale said Konkan region includes Mumbai as well has 12 Lok Sabha and 78 assembly seats. "Out of this, Congress has only six MLAs. Out of the six MLAs, two -Nitesh Rane and Kalidas Kolambkar- are with Narayan Rane," he said.

In October last year, Rane had floated a new party called 'Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh', days after quitting the Congress.

Talking to PTI, Ratnakar Mahajan, state Congress vice-president said the AICC secretaries would cover all the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies and 288 Assembly constituencies district-wise by August 5.

"After getting feedback on the party's organisational preparedness, the agenda regarding negotiations with like-minded parties would be finalised. North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha will be covered in the next four days," he said.

In 2014, the party had given its worst performance by winning only 2 Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly seats.

The state Congress has conveyed to the high command that it was interested in forming a "grand alliance" with like-minded parties to prevent division of votes while taking on the ruling BJP-Sena.