Around 35 supporters who flew to Delhi to meet the scam-tainted leader after his arrest 'distance' themselves from embattled politician fearing disciplinary action from the Congress high command
Around 35 supporters who flew to Delhi to meet the scam-tainted leader after his arrest 'distance' themselves from embattled politician fearing disciplinary action from the Congress high command
Suresh Kalmadi loyalists, who had vowed to stand by the side of their CWG scam-tainted leader during the hour of crisis after his arrest on Monday, have done an about-face, fearing the wrath of the Congress high command.
Game over? Suresh Kalmadi was arrested recently by the CBI for his
alleged involvement in the CWG scam. File Pic
While Kalmadi is cooling his heels in CBI custody, those who came out in the open to show solidarity with the disgraced leader may face the heat.
So, all the 35 supporters, including two MLAs and PMC deputy mayor, PMC former standing committee chairman and education board chairperson, who flew to Delhi apparently to meet the leader, have categorically said their Delhi visit had nothing to do with Kalmadi.
PMC Deputy Mayor Prasanna Jatap said he had flown to Delhi for his personal work and not to meet the arrested leader. "My visit had nothing to do with Kalmadi," he said. Arvind Shinde, former standing committee chairman, agreed. "My visit to Delhi was preplanned and there is no question of meeting Kalamdi, who was in the custody of CBI."
AICC office bearer Mohan Prakash cited personal reasons to visit the capital after Kalmadi's arrest.
But Kalmadi need not lose heart as he still has a handful of staunch supporters who are brave enough to declare that they would stand by the side the disgraced leader through his thick and thin. MLA Ramesh Bagwe said, "Kalmadi is innocent and nobody can call him a criminal until proven guilty in the court of law."
Rajani Tribhuvan, former PMC mayor, chipped in, "We are in a democratic country and nobody can stop us from supporting our leader. If need be, I shall hit the street for Kalmadi, who made, a Dalit woman like me, the mayor of the city. I am not afraid of any possible action against me."
100 MNS activists held outside City MP's House
More than 100 MNS activists were arrested while staging a demonstration in front to the house of Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday morning, demanding the scam-tainted leader's resignation as city MP. Those arrested include MLA Ramesh Vanjale, MNS city president Prakash Dhore and MNS leader Ranjeet Shirole, who was defeated by Kalamdi in the last Lok Sabha election from the city.
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