Wasnik asks dist unit to finalise candidates

Union minister for social justice Mukul Wasnik has thrown the ball back into the court of the Nagpur district (rural) Congress unit on
Friday over the list of probable candidates for the six assembly constituencies in Nagpur rural.

Earlier this week, the district unit's meeting presided over by its president Sunita Gawande had passed a resolution that it was authorising Wasnik, who represents Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency in the district, to finalise names of the candidates for the six seats; Ramtek, Kamptee, Hingna, Katol, Saoner and Umred.

However, on the instruction of the minister, MPCC general secretary Deepak Katole issued a statement that Wasnik had expressed gratitude for the faith reposed in him by the district Congress unit. However, Wasnik had explained that as per the party procedure, it was for the Congress Parliamentary Board (CPB) to finalise the poll candidates names. "So it would be fair if the recommendations for the nominations were cleared by the district unit and forwarded to MPCC, which in turn would send them to the CPB for final clearance," the statement issued on Wasnik's behalf said.

The district unit's decision empowering Wasnik to take the final call on candidates had sparked a controversy. Some party workers and ticket aspirants had questioned the decision. They had said that the move was nothing but trying to please the minister, and did not fit into the party process. Wasnik has now set things in order by politely declining the enabling resolution and asking the party unit to follow due process.