KOLHAPUR:
Former AICC secretary and close aid of the Gandhi’s, Bajirao Khade on Friday decided to rebel against the Congress party and MVA alliance by filing his nomination to contest the Kolhapur Lok Sabha seat as an independent candidate. Khade handed over his nomination to Returning officer Amol Yedge (Kolhapur District Collector) on Friday. After filing his nomination Khade in all tears asserted that even after loyally working with the Congress party for 28 years, my eligibility was not considered as I belong from a common family.The original ideology of Congress is being ousted.
For Sangli Lok Sabha seat as well, ex-union minister Pratik Patil, grandson of ex-Maharashtra Chief minister late Vasantdada Patil has rebelled against the Congress and MVA and has filed his nomination as an independent candidate.
Bajirao Khade has worked with AICC General secretary Priyanka Gandhi for two years. He is known for his organisational skills and began his career in the youth wing of Congress 28 years ago and rose to become the first AICC Secretary from Kolhapur. Khade has also served as the National General Secretary of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchyat Raj wing of Congress for a few years.
Speaking with the media after filing his nomination Khade said “The original Congress is being ousted. A year ago there was a positive atmosphere for the Congress. However, the local and state leaders did not understand it. Senior leaders had told me about my candidature. But the local and state leaders dropped my candidature. The process of ticket distribution should not be done under the influence of one or two people. was repeated. This process is not happening as per the values of the Congress party”.
Speaking about his decision to rebel against his party Khade said, “I have been loyally working with the Congress for 28 years. I have been preparing for the Kolhapur Lok Sabha elections for two years. I had sought a nomination from the Congress. When the ticket distribution was discussed, I was not considered. Being from a common family, my eligibility was rejected. The morale of the party workers has not been measured, the local and state leaders have hurt self-respect. However, this is not my fight alone,” said Khade, saying that this election is important to understand the public opinion.
“What can I say about the leaders who have asked me not to contest? This battle is of self-respect. This should be fought. Value of democracy is the main ideology of the Congress party. If this democracy is not getting considered at the time of giving ticket then election will have to be fought on the basis of party ideology. I am being pressured but everything has an end. Even pressure has an end. This is a battle for justice. From where the language of justice will come will be considered. I will never succumb to pressure. I have worked as a Congress worker for 28 years. No one can take away that ideology from us” added Khade wiping off his tears.
Earlier keeping Lok Sabha 2024 elections in mind, Khade had started meeting people from the constituency while his supporters from Panhala and Karvir tehsil had started lobbying for his candidature from the Congress party. Several hoardings displaying Khade as next (future) Member of Parliament were doing rounds from the last six months at various chowks in the city and district. Earlier on May 25, 2023, TOI had done a story regarding ‘Former AICC Secy Khade hints at Lok Sabha Aspirations’.
