Maharashtra: Congress left red-faced in Nashik

Satyajeet Tambe sought support of the BJP and other parties along with his party the Congress

The Congress was taken for a ride by its Nashik candidate for the upcoming legislative council elections. A three-term MLC from the graduates' constituency, Dr Sudhir Tambe, who was cleared by the party high command on Wednesday, did not file his nomination on Thursday. He did this to facilitate candidacy for his son, Satyajeet Tambe, who ultimately set himself up as an independent on the last day of nomination. To add to the embarrassment, Satyajeet sought the Bharatiya Janata Party's support to win, among other parties, including the Congress.

The father-son maintained that they were still part of the Congress, the party they have been working for. Satyajeet is the ex-president of the state youth Congress and was seeking a poll ticket. The development proved to be a setback for the party's senior most MLA, ex-minister, leader of the legislative party and a hard-core Gandhi family loyalist, Balasaheb Thorat, who is also Satyajeet's maternal uncle. Though Satyajeet was considered a political heir to his uncle earlier, the political dynamics of the extended family changed recently as Thorat's children are tipped to be his flag bearers.

Congress leaders said that Satyajeet's act can be seen as rebellion executed in association with his father, an officially declared Congress nominee. The secrecy the Tambes maintained during the closing hours of nomination has kept the political circles guessing. The father revealed that he had backed out to help his son, who needed an opportunity to grow politically. Apparently, the Congress party had denied Satyajeet a ticket, but chose his father, who was made the party's group leader in the upper house in the winter session in Nagpur.

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Satyajeet was said to be inching closer to the BJP after Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the youth leader's book release. Heaping praises, Fadnavis had invited Satyajeet to the BJP, albeit in a lighter vein. "How long will you keep such young leaders out? Please don't do it, because we (the BJP) too have an eye on him," the DCM had said in Thorat's presence. It seems that Thursday's turn of events could complete the shift soon as Satyajeet is tipped to win the contest. More so, because the BJP hasn't officially fielded its candidate.

Satyajeet's appeal to the BJP, specifically to Fadnavis, was vivid, "Devendra ji has always given a new leadership an opportunity. He loves me and I'm confident that he will support me as well." His appeal evoked immediate response from the BJP, which has been trying to end the Congress' two-decade-long reign in the constituency. While Fadnavis has not reacted yet, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, "We will surely think about supporting Satyajeet Tambe if he requests us for it."

In a similar embarrassment earlier, the Congress was forced to extend support to an independent after its nominee, a BJP turncoat, had backed out at the eleventh hour in Nagpur's legislative council polls. It paved the way for Bawankule's thumping win in December 2021. Elections to Nashik and another one from graduates' segment and three from teachers' constituencies will be held on January 30. The Maha Vikas Aghadi has shared seats while the BJP and Shinde Sena alliance is also in the contest.