Nagpur, Jan 21 (NationPress) In the wake of rising internal disputes within the Congress after the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation elections, the leader of the Congress Legislative Party in the Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, expressed his optimism on Wednesday, stating that he anticipates a swift resolution to the turmoil and believes the party will claim the mayoral position in the civic body.

In light of recent criticisms from party MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, Wadettiwar addressed the ticket distribution controversy, claiming that numerous corporators who supported Shivani Wadettiwar during her Lok Sabha bid were overlooked for tickets in the municipal elections.

“I chose to overlook these matters at that time to prevent conflict during the elections. Even during the Assembly polls, the MP conducted rallies in the Brahmapuri constituency advocating for the election of a Kunbi MLA, which posed local challenges. Nonetheless, the public saw through these tactics and chose us. Being an MP or MLA doesn’t grant ownership of the party. The workers are the essence of the party,” Wadettiwar remarked.

Having devoted 25 years to the Congress in the Chandrapur district, Wadettiwar stressed that forcibly taking corporators or making provocative public statements only tarnishes the party’s reputation. He suggested that the MP's recent comments might stem from a “misunderstanding.”

Regarding a high-level meeting set for later that day in Nagpur with state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal and party secretaries, Wadettiwar emphasized the importance of engaging with elected corporators rather than focusing solely on senior leaders.

“Decisions concerning the mayor and the group leader should reflect the opinions of these grassroots representatives,” he stated.

His statements come at a time when tensions within the Chandrapur district unit have become public, marked by a verbal clash between Wadettiwar and Dhanorkar over leadership choices and organizational control. This dispute has prompted intervention from state Congress leadership.

Dhanorkar has accused Wadettiwar of forcibly “lifting” newly elected corporators. Discussions on appointing key office-bearers in the district have escalated, with both leaders advocating for their supporters to receive influential positions. Supporters from both factions have begun operating independently, bypassing the party’s traditional hierarchy.

The divide intensified after Congress emerged as the single largest party in the civic body, winning 27 out of 66 seats, while the BJP secured 23. This fractured mandate has set the stage for challenging negotiations to establish the civic administration.

Wadettiwar also commented on the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Wednesday concerning the OBC reservation, cautioning that the quota is in a vulnerable state.

“Should the OBC reservation be diminished or compromised, the responsibility will rest solely with the BJP,” he stated.