MLAs seek meeting with Sonia Gandhi over unrest in Maharashtra Congress

Over two dozen Congress legislators from Maharashtra have sought an appointment with party President Sonia Gandhi, apparently to discuss the organisational affairs and the party's positioning in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), amid growing distrust between the three allies. Sources said Gandhi was likely to meet the legislators in the first week of April.

The party faces a challenge on many fronts, including the leadership in the Maharashtra and Mumbai units, the party's debacle in the recent Assembly polls and preparedness for the forthcoming local body elections in the state, said a senior Congress leader. He added that the legislators are also upset because they feel that they are not only sidelined by the state leadership but also by the party ministers in the state. Some 27 legislators have signed the letter to Gandhi.

State unit President Nana Patole said the development should not be seen as a threat to the MVA government

The matters related to the party's national leadership, especially the proposal of replacing Gandhi as the UPA chairperson with Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, has also upset the Congress legislators, said a leader. The Congress legislators have been complaining that since they are not given adequate development funds or schemes by the MVA government, the party's prospects are under threat.

The proposal of replacing Sonia Gandhi as UPA chairperson with Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, has also upset the Congress legislators, said a leader

Other than government related issues, the legislators and party office bearers are also concerned with the leadership of the state and Mumbai units, said a leader. "The demand for change in leadership is normal practice in our party. No state unit president or Mumbai chief is insulated from such internal attacks," said a leader from Mumbai. He added that some legislators were prepared to press for the overhaul of the organisation and reshuffle/changes in the ministerial posts the party holds currently.

State unit president Nana Patole said there was nothing wrong in seeking the party president's time for the meeting. He said the development should not be seen as a threat to the MVA government. Incidentally, Patole has reminded Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to implement the MVA common minimum programme's Congress-specific agenda. Gandhi had also written to the chief minister regarding the same.