The factional war within the Congress party in Chandrapur has escalated significantly, as local MP Pratibha Dhanorkar and MLA Vijay Wadettiwar engage in a bitter struggle for control over the group leader's position in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC). On Tuesday, this political tug-of-war reached the office of the Nagpur divisional commissioner, where both camps submitted memorandums supporting their respective candidates for the group leader role. The commissioner has reserved her decision for now.
Dhanorkar camp seeks new group leader
Sixteen out of the 27 Congress corporators from the Dhanorkar camp submitted a letter requesting the recognition of Surendra Adbale as the new group leader, replacing Rajesh Adur. In response, the Wadettiwar faction has sought the disqualification of these 16 corporators for allegedly skipping a meeting convened under a party whip on June 14.
Background of the dispute
The ongoing dispute is an extension of the bitter rivalry between the two camps that has persisted since the municipal polls. Despite Congress emerging as the single-largest party in the CMC with 27 corporators, internal divisions prevented the party from securing the mayor, deputy mayor, and standing committee chairman posts, which ultimately went to the BJP-led alliance.
Adur was initially elected with the backing of the Wadettiwar camp. However, five corporators recently switched sides to the Dhanorkar faction, leaving the Wadettiwar camp in the minority. Dhanorkar, who was in Nagpur on Tuesday, refuted claims of a split in the party. She stated, "There are 27 corporators in our group. The group has not changed and remains the Congress. Only the group leader is being changed because he did not take members into confidence."
Whip issue and disqualification notice
Regarding the disqualification notice issued under the party whip, Dhanorkar argued, "When you don't have the numbers, how will your whip apply? A whip applies only to proceedings inside the House, not to internal party action." She further mentioned that she had previously alerted the Congress high command about the need to change the leader. "I waited for two months, but nothing happened. Now, corporators have moved on their own," she added.
On the other hand, Sachin Katyal, a Congress corporator and aide to Adur, asserted that Adur was elected group leader with the consent of all 27 corporators in the presence of the divisional commissioner. Katyal demanded the disqualification of the 16 corporators who skipped the June 14 meeting despite receiving official notices.
Allegations of inducement
When questioned about allegations from the Wadettiwar camp that corporators were induced to switch sides, Dhanorkar challenged them to provide evidence. "Let Wadettiwar provide proof. Who took money, from whom, and who carried money after the elections, let him answer," she said.
