Mandavi, Khunte return to Congress

Raipur, December 06, 2012

 

Former state minister Manoj Mandavi and Chhattisgarh Vikas Party (CVP) president PR Khunte have returned to Congress. PCC president Nandkumar Patel made formal announcement of their return before media at Congress Bhawan on Thursday. 

Negating that the reentry of party rebel Mandavi and expelled leader Khunte had anything to do with 2013 and 2014 polls, Patel clarified that the duo had requested for it much before and it was the party high command which took decision in their favour. He informed that Khunte had written a letter expressing his desire to merge his party CVP with Congress.

“We followed all the procedures to take them back. The return of these two leaders will further beef up our party,” Patel said, although he admitted that the party plans to take back some more rebels and expelled leaders in the coming days. 

When pointed towards earlier announcement of Congress of not considering return of any rebel in future, Patel said the current decision of his party on Mandavi and Khunte was circumstantial. “To fight the fascist powers like BJP, we urged the party supremo to consider the requests of Mandavi and Khunte,” he added.

Rubbishing out the assumptions that Congress had promised assembly tickets to the two leaders, Patel said the party head would assign tasks and responsibilities to the duo later. “Presently, their job will be work with workers to strengthen the party,” he added.

“In fact, we all will work together to remove Raman Singh government,” he said adding that almost all categories including youth, farmers and women were annoyed with the incumbent government. 

Patel poses silence over Choubey-Quraishi episode

CLP leader Ravindra Choubey reached in the middle of Patel’s media interaction. He is said to be severely upset with the ‘leaked letter’ sent by state unit incharge BK Hariprasada to Patel pertaining to party MLA Badruddin Quraishi’s allegations against him. 

When media persons sought his take over Choubey-Quraishi episode, Patel posed silence. 

When asked how would the Congress become strong when some of its leaders had waged war against fellow partymen and were even ready to leave the party, Patel said such situations arise due to difference of opinion and it would certainly be solved in coming days.  

Asked whether the party would continue enduring such troublesome leaders or take cognisance of their indiscipline, Patel said cognisance would surely be taken to control such activities.

I refused CM’s offer: Khunte

When pointed towards reports that he made his mindset to return to Congress after BJP closed its doors for him, Khunte said it was not the ruling party but he who refused chief minister Raman Singh’s offer. “The CM had actually invited me, but did not meet him,” he clarified.

On the other hand, Mandavi said he had always been a Congress worker, though he left the party for a short period for some reason. 

Khunte was a BJP leader and had defected to Congress. In 2004, his name was flashed in MLA-buying case. Thereafter, he was expelled from Congress and then he formed Chhattisgarh Vikas Party.

Mandavi, who was minister during Congress regime in state, had rebelled from the party in previous assembly polls when he did not get ticket. He had fought elections as an independent candidate.