Wadettiwar denies helping rebels

Rebellion by partymen who are contesting as independents against the official nominees has already caused acute embarrassment to top
leadership of every party. While the problem has cropped up in a majority of constituencies not only in Vidarbha but entire state, it has taken a curious turn in Chandrapur district with two Congress leaders accusing each other of encouraging and supporting rebels.


Soon after he joined the Congress and was elected MLA in a by-election from Chimur constituency, the minister of state for irrigation has been engaged in a battle for supremacy in the Congress party in Chandrapur district with ex-MP Naresh Pugalia. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, while Pugalia lost from Chandrapur, Wadettiwar concentrated on Gadchiroli and ensured the success of party candidate Marortrao Kowase. This success of Wadettiwar has only severed the factional fight between Wadettiwar and Pugalia.


For the October 13 assembly elections, Wadettiwar has been re-nominated from Chimur while Pugalia has managed to get ticket for his son Rahul for Ballarpur seat in the district. While Pugalia's candidates are contesting from Ballarpur, Chandrapur and Brahmapuri as official nominees, those close to Wadettiwar are in fray from Rajura and Warora while he is himself is seeking re-election from Chimur. The two factions are charging each other of helping the rebels in all seats except Warora where official Congress candidate Sanjay Deotale is spared of the trouble.


While Wadettiwar is facing the charge of helping rebel Arun Nimje against Congress candidate Subhash Dhote, its Vinod Ahirkar who is in fray from Ballarpur against Rahul Pugalia, in Brahmapuri official Congress nominee Pankaj Guddewar is being troubled by Sanjiv Gaddamwar and Ramesh Gajbe. While Wadettiwar, re-nominated from Chimur, is also facing the heat in his constituency, he has vehemently denied the charges leveled by the rival faction. In a release issued from his public relations office here, Wadettiwar has denied encouraging any rebels in other constituencies in Chandrapur district. He has distanced himself from any such activity and expressed apprehensions that Pugalia is behind the rebellion.