Congress Faces Setback in MLC Elections, Claims Ramdas Athawale

Mumbai, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Central Minister Ramdas Athawale has criticized the Congress party for its disappointing performance in the recent MLC elections, claiming a decline in its public support. Speaking in Mumbai, he stated that Congress managed to secure only one seat out of twelve contested across four states.

Athawale noted that despite Congress holding power in Karnataka, they failed to win any seats there. In Maharashtra, out of five seats, three were won by the Mahayuti alliance, while the opposition claimed two.

He remarked, “Only one seat has gone to Congress. Rahul Gandhi frequently claims that the machines malfunctioned, yet they could only secure one seat even in a ballot election.” Athawale suggested that the diminishing support for Congress is reflected in these results, attributing it to public dissatisfaction with Gandhi’s movements.

On internal party dynamics, he expressed confidence that there are no significant disagreements within the party. Under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, all leaders have been working cohesively. He mentioned that Sunetra Pawar has recently taken on responsibilities, and decisions are made collaboratively.

Athawale also addressed comments made by actor Naseeruddin Shah regarding a “Naxalite mindset,” stating that while Shah is a talented actor with a strong understanding of social issues, such remarks are inappropriate. He emphasized that Naxalism has caused significant harm to the country and should not be trivialized.

Regarding allegations of electoral fraud raised by Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, Athawale urged respect for the election process. He stated that with officials and party workers present, proving any wrongdoing is a serious matter. He concluded that Yadav should honor the election results and refrain from casting doubts, advocating for patience and decorum in political discourse.