Congress workers protest against own party after cross-voting leads to loss of Dalit leader
21 Jun 2022 11:54:24
Mumbai, June 21: The Congress workers have protested against its own party after its Dalit candidate Chandrakant Handore suffered a major loss in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Handore had earlier served as BMC corporator in 1985 and as mayor of Mumbai between 1992-1993. A Dalit activist, he was earlier associated with Republican Party of India. He later joined Congress and won the Assembly elections from Chembur consecutively in 2004 & 2009. Chandrakant Handore was appointed as Maharastra Congress’ Working President in February last year.
In a video shared, the Congress party workers took to the streets in Chembur, raising slogans of ‘Congress Murdabad.’ They were reportedly miffed about the cross-voting within the party during the MLC elections.
As per reports, the party had fielded two candidates, namely, Chandrakant Handore and Bhai Jagtap, despite knowing that it had the numbers to ensure the victory of only one candidate.
Handore was projected as Congress’ first choice. Given that it would require the vote from its allies, it was expected that the MLC candidate Bhai Jagtap would have slim chances.
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When results came out, it was found that Bhai Jagtap won elections while the Congress party’s lone Dalit candidate lost. Reportedly, the party had fielded Handore in hopes of securing Dalit votes in the upcoming MLC polls.
Handore had earlier served as BMC corporator in 1985 and as mayor of Mumbai between 1992-1993. A Dalit activist, he was earlier associated with Republican Party of India. He later joined Congress and won the Assembly elections from Chembur consecutively in 2004 & 2009. Chandrakant Handore was appointed as Maharastra Congress’ Working President in February last year.