Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Rajendra Mulak, who was suspended for anti-party activities during the previous Assembly elections, has been formally reinstated into the party.
The announcement was made in Delhi in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala. On the occasion, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshavardhan Sapkal officially welcomed Mulak back into the party fold and declared the revocation of his suspension.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries B.M. Sandeep and Kunal Choudhary were also present.
In November last year, the Maharashtra Congress had suspended 22 rebel candidates for six years, citing their involvement in anti-party activities during the Assembly elections.
Among the prominent leaders suspended at the time were Rajendra Mulak (Ramtek), Yagnyavalk Jichkar (Katol), Kamal Vyawhare (Kasba), Manoj Shinde and Suresh Patil (Kopri-Pachpakhadi), and Aaba Bagul (Parvati).
Others included Anandrao Gedam, Shilu Chimurkar, Sonal Kove, Bharat Yereme, Abhilasha Gavature, Premsagar Ganvir, Ajay Lanjewar, Vilas Patil, Aasma Javad Chikhlekar, Hanskumar Pandey, Mohanrao Dandekar, Mangal Vilas Bhujbal, Manoj, Vijay Khadse, Shabir Khan, Avinash Lad, Raju Jhode, and Rajendra Mukah.
Cong MLA Patole climbs speaker`s podium, suspended from assembly for a day
Congress MLA Nana Patole was suspended from the Maharashtra assembly for a day on Tuesday after he climbed the speaker`s podium, demanding action against BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate for allegedly “insulting” farmers.
The Congress and other opposition members staged a walkout from the assembly after the action against former speaker Patole, announcing a boycott of proceedings for the entire day.
Later, a defiant Patole told reporters that he would not back down from raising the issues concerning farmers, even if it meant facing suspension from the House every day.
Lonkiar recently told a gathering of farmers in his assembly constituency Partur in Jalna district that “people who criticise his party and government should know they are getting clothes, shoes, mobile, monetary benefits of schemes and money for sowing because of us”.
Kokate had claimed farmers spent loan waiver money on weddings. One rupee is something even beggars don`t accept but the government is giving crop insurance for that sum, which is being misused by some persons, the agriculture minister had said.
Soon after the Question Hour on Tuesday, Patole demanded action against Lonikar and Kokate for “insulting” farmers.
He came on the podium and was seen arguing with Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
The House was subsequently adjourned for five minutes.
When the proceedings reconvened, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised Patole, saying the Congress leader moved aggressively towards the speaker, which is not right and is not expected from him.
Patole should apologise, he said.
However, Patole again climbed the speaker`s podium and demanded action against Lonikar and Kokate.
The speaker then announced that he was suspending Patole from the House for the entire day.
