Congress not to utilise Kalmadi's services in civic polls

MUMBAI: He may have dominated Pune politics for over 15 years but the Congress will not take Suresh Kalmadi's services for the civic polls there scheduled for February 16.

Maharashtra Congress President Manikrao Thakre today made it clear that the party will have nothing to do with Kalmadi, its MP from Pune, who was released on bail after spending nearly ten months in jail for his alleged involvement in the CWG scam. He has been suspended from the party.

"Congress is not taking Kalmadi's services for its campaign in Pune where the civic polls are being held on February 16," Thakre said.

While acknowledging that a section in the Pune city unit still owed allegiance to Kalmadi, Thakre said, "Even the celebrations in Pune Congress office today over his release on bail was by these supporters and not the party."

Thakre said if Kalmadi's supporters call him to campaign in their constituencies, it will be in their individual capacity and "the party will have nothing to do with it".

MPCC spokesman Anant Gadgil, a bitter critic of Kalmadi, when asked for his reaction said, "I am the party spokesman and can speak only about people in my party and not outsiders."