Opposition using Ajit Sawant, says MPCC president Manikrao Thakre

MUMBAI/OSMANABAD: Reacting sharply to open criticism of its election strategy, Congress today announced suspension of Ajit Sawant, general secretary of the party's Mumbai unit observing that the opposition was "using" him to settle scores with the party.

"Opposition is using Sawant. He has levelled baseless allegations against the party so we are suspending him from Congress and will serve him a notice today," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said while addressing a public rally here in run-up to the Zilla Parishad polls.

Though Thakre did not name any particular party his reference was obvious.

"Sawant was also present on the dais of a RSS rally earlier and we had also issued him a notice then. He has been intentionally working against Congress so we are suspending him," Thakre said.

On Monday, Sawant wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, accusing "certain leaders" of misleading the CM and questioning the electoral preparation and strategy of the party.

Sawant raised questions on offering "winnable" seats to the ally NCP and even raised a finger on the process of selection of candidates. He also aired his discontent in the media.

Meanwhile, reacting to the diatribe launched by senior Congress minister Narayan Rane against deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Thakre said, "whatever Rane said was in his personal capacity and was not the official position of Congress".

Addressing a rally in Kudal in coastal region of the state yesterday, the Industries Minister had dubbed Ajit Pawar as a "faulty tape-recorder".

"I am not bothered about Ajit Pawar's threats. NCP ministers are embroiled in cases of murder and scams and that is why there is a rush outside their cabins," he had alleged.

Rane's close aide Shankar Kambli defected to the NCP yesterday owing to differences with him over his style of functioning.