'Don't treat Suresh Kalmadi like a criminal'

PUNE: Worried by the news of MP Suresh Kalmadi suffering from dimentia, his supporters in Pune have demanded that the party should soften its stand on the beleaguered leader and come out in his support.
Pune unit of the Congress is dominated by MP Kalmadi supporters who organised an informal meeting to express support to the leader and demanded that the party should withdraw his suspension.For more than two decades Kalmadi has dominated Pune politics and his supporters have grabbed all key positions in the party unit. Kalmadi supporters have met various senior Congress leaders and have requested party president Sonia Gandhi to withdraw Kalmadis suspension.
Kalmadi is lodged in Tihar jail for more than two months in connection with the multi-crore Commonwealth Games scam. The news of Kalmadi suffering from dementia, a disease related to memory loss, impaired reasoning and personality changes has disturbed his supporters.
" Party should not treat him like a criminal. He is a sitting MP. He has contributed a lot to the party and kept Congress alive in the bastion of Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party.
Without Kalmadi Congress will vanish in Pune" said one of his supporter corporator in Pune.
However anti Kalmadi faction of the party now wants to take over the party unit. Leaders including MLC Ulhas Pawar, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Anant Gadgil, former minister Balasaheb Shivarkar have come forward to take reins of the party in Pune.
" We are watching the situation closely. The Congress is strong in Pune and will do well in the forthcoming municipal elections. Kalmadi is facing judicial probe and the party will take a decision at appropriate time" said MPCC president Manikrao Thakre during his recent visit to Pune.