Rebel Anil Sole refuses to withdraw from Nagpur MLC poll; Ravindra Chavan returns empty-handed

Rebellions have broken out in both the BJP-led Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Nagpur Legislative Council election, adding to the difficulties of their official candidates. Leaders have begun efforts to placate the rebel candidates, but none had succeeded by Monday night.

BJP rebel Anil Sole flatly refused to withdraw his nomination. State BJP president Ravindra Chavan went to meet him in the evening. Despite a long wait, Sole did not come out to meet him, so the meeting did not take place and Chavan had to return empty-handed.

Responding to questions from the media, Sole said he would contest the election and had already told party leaders so. He said he had not broken discipline in any way and had taken all his decisions within the bounds of discipline. Sole said that before filing his nomination he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. He said the question of withdrawing the nomination therefore did not arise.

At the time of nominations, BJP leaders were seen trying to avoid a confrontation at the venue. BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohle had filed his nomination papers shortly before Sole arrived. To avoid running into Sole, BJP leaders left the spot immediately. Sole's supporters kept raising slogans in his favour. Sole said the trust and support of graduates was his real strength and that he would keep working for their issues.

Sunil Agrawal, Prakash Lonare, Vilas Trivedi, Balasaheb Kulkarni, Adv. Lanjewar, Dr Satyawan Meshram, Pratik Ghode and Dr Shyam Punde were present with Sole. Some workers of the Republican Party and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha were also with him.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Anil Sole was "our leader" and was somewhat disappointed at not getting the party ticket. Bawankule said he would speak to Sole himself and request his cooperation in the election.

After Sole, Adv. Raman Senad filed his nomination papers on behalf of the Lokjagruti Morcha. He had sought the BJP ticket and raised the banner of revolt when the party did not give him the chance. Senad said he had been a volunteer and worker of the RSS and the BJP from the beginning. He said this election was not being held on the party's election symbol, so the party should have reconsidered.

The situation is the same in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Nitesh Karale, a rebel from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) in Wardha district, arrived dressed as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. He said this was a graduates' election and that he would stay in the fray. He has become a problem for the MVA candidate Vanjari.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Anil Deshmukh said Nitesh Karale would be spoken to about withdrawing his nomination. He said a suitable way out would be found, keeping in view the alliance and the present political situation.