Chandrapur Mayor, 7 others suspended for anti-party activities

Chandrapur Mayor and the president of Ballarpur Municipal Council along with six others were suspended by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities against the party nominee and state minister Sanjay Deotale.
Those placed under suspension are Sangita Amrutkar, the Mayor, Rajni Mulchandani, president of Ballarpur Municipal Council besides six local leaders, party sources said today.
They had allegedly campaigned against the Cultural Affairs Minister Deotale, they said, adding that those suspended belonged to the camp of former MP Naresh Puglia group.
The MPCC has also cracked a whip on Chandrapur city unit president Gajanan Gawande, Chandrapur municipal corporation standing committee chairman Ramu Tiwari, corporators Ashok Nagapure, Pravin Padwekar and Usha Dhande, besides Ballarpur tehsil Congress president Ghansham Mulchandani, sources added.

The move has sent shockwaves in the Chandrapur district Congress unit.
The MPCC action is the fallout of a bitter factional feud between Deotale and Pugalia, sources said, adding that Deotale had complained against Pugalia for working against him.

The election for the constituency, which falls in Vidarbha region, was held on April 10.
Deotale is pitted against sitting BJP MP Hansraj Ahir and AAP nominee Wamanrao Chatap.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had campaigned for Deotale.