NCP leaders upset over MLA's presence on stage with President

THANE: Differences between members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Thane district seem to be out in open. While it was anybody's guess that legislator and working president (state unit) Jitendra Awhad's growing closeness to party president Sharad Pawar was leading to existential threats amongst senior leaders, the rift was seemingly evident during last week's visit of President Pranab Mukherjee.
It is learnt that NCP leader and guardian minister (Thane) Ganesh Naik and deputy chairman of the Maharashtra legislative council Vasant Davkhare were miffed at not being accommodated on the stage with the President, who was in town to inaugurate a giant statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Kalwa. Close aides of the two NCP leaders said the duo expressed their protest to the organizers but were told local authorities did not have any say in the arrangements. While Naik stayed back in his car during the President's speech, Davkhare was accommodated in the regular VIP front row. "This was a clear case of sidelining the two senior leaders, and will sure have repercussions during the elections. One person claiming the whole limelight is not good for the party," said a NCP party member.
Apart from the two NCP leaders, minister of state for tribal development Rajendra Gavit, too, did not find space on the stage. He too appeared miffed, sources said. "When the mayor and an MLA can find space in the dignitaries, how can they leave out a minister and senior members of the assembly," said a party member.
When checked with the organizers, it turned out that names of Naik, Davkhare and Gavit were forwarded by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to the President's office as those who were likely to occupy space on the stage, but were not included in the list returned back from the President's office. When contacted, Davkhare said he attended the function upon a request from the municipal commissioner.
"When I went there, the place was crowded and there was little space on the stage. I went and sat amongst common public. These issues I dont take to heart and do not matter to me as I work with common public. I later heard from people that guardian minister was sitting in his car and did not come out. I am not aware of any rift or issues," he told TOI.
This was a clear case of sidelining NCP leader and guardian minister Ganesh Naik and deputy chairman of the state legislative council Vasant Davkhare. It will sure have repercussions during the elections. One person claiming the limelight is not good for NCP