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MPCC chief Deshmukh goes for Pradhan's defeat, showcause issued to 12 Maharashtra MLAs

In a major crackdown on dissidents following the defeat of its official nominee in last fortnight's Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra, the Congress leadership has accepted the resignation of Pradesh Congress Committee president Ranjit Deshmukh, a close associate of Sharad Pawar. The party also suspended a legislator, Nagpur's Satish Chaturvedi, from its primary membership and issued showcause notices to 10 other Maharashtra MLAs.

Deshmukh resigned from his post, owning moral responsibility for the defeat of the party's official candidate Ram Pradhan. Deshmukh said he himself was a candidate for the legislative council election held simultaneously and that there was cross-voting in the council elections as well. Since nobody in the party had accepted responsibility for Pradhan's defeat, he thought it fit to do so.

He said party president Sonia Gandhi had appreciated his gesture in accepting moral responsibility for Pradhan's defeat. The former Union home secretary, a nominee of Gandhi, lost the election on account of large-scale cross-voting by party members.

Party sources said the showcause notices were signed by Madhavrao Scindia, AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra, and stated that the action has the potential to plunge the state unit into a crisis.

The MLAs who have been issued showcause notices are Dilip Patil, Shankarrao Jagtap, Sahebrao Paradkar, R R Patil, Kisanrao Jadhav, Sanjay Deotale, Ashok Khadkar, Balasaheb Gopekar, Khushal Bobche and Moratrao Kavse.

Former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Najma Heptulla and Pradhan were the Congress nominees for the Rajya Sabha poll. While Heptulla scraped through, Pradhan lost. However, two Independent candidates -- former railway minister Suresh Kalmadi and media baron Vijay Darda -- won the election. The latter, to whom Pawar had extended "moral" support, secured the second highest tally with 45 first preference votes, next only to the BJP's Pramod Mahajan.

Sonia Gandhi had deputed a high-level three-member team to Bombay, headed by K Vijayabhaskar Reddy, to probe the debacle. Following the team's preliminary report, the party's Lok Sabha member from Bhandara and Sharad Pawar loyalist, Praful Patel, and the party's MLA from Nagpur, Satish Chaturvedi, were issued showcause notices. Both, however, denied their role in Pradhan's defeat.

Later, Chaturvedi was suspended from the party's primary membership for not replying to the showcause notice issued to him. Meanwhile, Patel who had sent his reply to the showcause notice and had called on Sonia two days ago, was directed to send certain additional clarifications.

Stung to the quick by the notice to Patel and the whispering campaign against him by his critics blaming him for the defeat, Pawar cut short his London visit and met Sonia on Wednesday. He reportedly told her that the party had been "ditched" by "friends" and that there was a large-scale use of money power by Independent contestants.

Pawar had said he was satisfied with his talks with Gandhi. Expectations were high that the differences between the Congress president and Pawar would be sorted out after their meeting. leader of the Opposition in the the state assembly, Madhukar Pichad, even declared that the issue of Pradhan's defeat was "a closed" chapter.

Pawar, who is now in Pune, declined to comment whether the party leadership's actions targeted him. In an interview immediately after the party's decision, he merely replied, "I don't know. I don't want to say anything."

About MPCC president Deshmukh's resignation, Pawar said he was a loyal party worker and had accepted the 'moral responsibility' immediately after the defeat. He said Deshmukh had played a key role in the resounding success of the party both in the general election and the recent by-election.

Pawar said he had apprised Sonia of the situation that led to Pradhan's defeat. "This was my responsibility and I have accepted it," he added.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Maharashtra crisis threatens Sonia's hold over Congress
Sonia given names of suspect legislators
Congress loyalists gun for MPCC chief
AICC team rues role of money power in Maharashtra RS elections
Jubilant Kalmadi vows to clip Sharad Pawar's wings

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