A leaked tape allegedly of a conversation between Congress leader Ashok Chavan and another party worker triggered speculation that he is likely to resign from his post as party chief in Maharashtra, on Saturday.
The Congress leader was discussing the issue of the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat with a worker identified as Amar Rajurkar. Mr. Rajurkar has denied the conversation and said the tape was concocted.
Mr. Chavan, however, said that he had no intention of resigning. “I have not heard the audio tape but I do not bother about these things...the question is whether there is some discontent with regards to the Chandrapur seat. The answer is yes, we are trying to resolve it. The conversation is between me and a party worker. It is a breach of my privacy if it was leaked,” he said.
In the tape, Mr. Chavan is heard saying he had to field Congress leader Vinayak Bangade because nobody was paying heed to his plans for the constituency. “I agree with what you are saying but you speak to Mukul Wasnik [All India Congress comittee general secretary]. People there are not understanding. I tried to explain too. I am also planning to resign,” Mr. Chavan is heard as saying.
The senior Congress leader said discontent during election time is natural but it is important to curtail the growing anger of those unhappy with the ticket distribution system. “One has to take into account workers’ sentiments. As far as I understand, it was a private conversation, which we have all the time with the workers to try and understand their underlying sentiments.”
