In a brewing storm within the Congress party, top brass have signaled that disciplinary action will be taken against MLAs who defied the party whip and cross-voted in the recent state council elections. However, the fallout from these actions will only become apparent in the next two days. The move has already sparked significant controversy, with Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique expressing strong opposition.
On Friday, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal addressed the media following a party meeting at the Garware Club in Churchgate, where the current political climate and preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections were discussed. Venugopal revealed that the party had decided to take action against those who betrayed the party’s mandate. “Action against the traitors who cross-voted has been taken, and information related to it will be shared soon,” he stated, emphasizing that the Congress party would not tolerate indiscipline.
In response, Zeeshan Siddique, the MLA from Bandra East and son of former Minister of State Baba Siddique, voiced his discontent. Siddique suggested that even if the Congress allocated the Bandra East seat to Shiv Sena, it could lead to a scenario similar to the Sangli Lok Sabha by-election. In that contest, Congress’s Vishal Patil defied the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and won despite opposition from Shiv Sena UBT, an indication of his defiance and reluctance to bow to party pressure.
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Meanwhile, Venugopal reiterated the commitment of the MVA alliance parties to unite in their campaign against the “corrupt Mahayuti government.” The Congress is ramping up its efforts to maximize its seat count in the upcoming state elections, following recent successes in Maharashtra. The strategy meeting was attended by key figures including state party in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, MPCC Chief Nana Patole, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar, former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, and other prominent MPs and MLAs.
As the Congress party prepares for the electoral battle ahead, the internal dissent and the party’s handling of cross-voting incidents will likely play a crucial role in shaping its strategy and unity. The party’s focus remains on unseating the incumbent Mahayuti government, with an emphasis on addressing corruption and rallying support from its base.