In the wake of internal divisions within the Shiv Sena and NCP, the state Congress in Maharashtra is now grappling with its own set of internal challenges. Factionalism within the party has begun to surface as the groundwork for upcoming elections gets underway. Disagreements over the district party leadership in Solapur and a banner mishap that omitted Pune MLA Ravindra Dhangekar’s image during a city party unit event have escalated factionalism. Most notably, party workers in Nagpur engaged in a public altercation, leading to the suspension of a party meeting.
The brawl in Nagpur began when the city’s Congress president, Vikas Thackeray, and party leader Narendra Jichkar competed for the microphone to address the crowd during a party event. High-profile leaders such as Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole, leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, and former MP Vilas Muttemwar were present on the stage during the incident.
Reports suggest that some Congress members were also upset with remarks made by Wadettiwar about Rahul Gandhi. Tensions ignited as soon as he took the stage, leading to a heated dispute that persisted for nearly half an hour, despite Patole’s efforts to restore order.
This internal strife can be attributed to a rift within the Nagpur Congress between two factions. One faction aligns with Vilas Muttemwar, while the other supports former ministers Nitin Raut and Satish Chaturvedi.
Furthermore, earlier in the week, divisions emerged within the party during a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, concerning a statement condemning the Hamas attack on Israel. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas triggered a political dispute in India after the Congress released a statement expressing the party’s “long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people.” This statement highlighted the party’s internal divisions, with not all CWC members endorsing the section regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The BJP, known for its unwavering support of Israel, criticized the Congress for its statement, accusing the opposition party of endorsing terrorism and prioritizing minority vote bank politics. The internal strife in Maharashtra Congress underscores the challenges faced by political parties in managing internal dissent and maintaining a unified front during critical times.
