Sena MLA assaulted by party workers, resigns

Sena MLA assaulted by party workers, resigns
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Nashik, June 20: Shiv Sena MLA from Sinnar, Manikrao Kokate, a Zilla Parishad (ZP) member Laxman Thakre were assaulted and a car of a BJP corporator Balasaheb Aher (brother of former health minister Dr Daulatrao Aher) was damaged by Shiv Sainiks on Monday.

The Sainiks had been annoyed with the defeat of the Sena nominee and former Mayor of Nashik Vasant Gite in the elections to the Legislative Council from the Nashik local self-governing bodies constituency. Gite had been defeated by NCP's Devidas Pingale by a margin of 25 votes yesterday.

A meeting of the office-bearers of the Sena was called by its deputy leader for the region and MLC Arvind Sawant to take stock of the situation. At the meeting several office-bearers claimed that some of the party members had cross-voted. Some alleged that the members of the alliance partner, BJP, had not voted for the Sena's nominee. The name of Balasaheb Aher (brother of former minister Dr Aher) figured prominently as Balasaheb had objected to the nomination of Gite, calling it a unilateral act by the Sena.

Later, Sena and BJP leaders including state BJP secretary Sharad Kulkarni had declared that Gite was the official candidate of the Sena-BJP. The name of Sena's MLA from Sinnar, Manikrao Kokate, also figured as a possible traitor. He was summoned for the meeting and when he arrived, Shiv Sainiks raised slogans against him calling him "gaddar" (traitor).

Some Sainiks even assaulted him and tore his clothes. Former minister Babanrao Gholap and MLA from Yeola Kalyanrao Patil intervened in the fight to release Kokate. Later, Kokate announced that he had submitted his resignation to leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly Narayan Rane. He said that without any inquiry or proof, Sainiks had held him guilty and assaulted him. He said he could not tolerate the insult and hence had decided to quit as member of the Legislative Assembly and also from the primary membership of the Sena.

A Nashik ZP member Laxman Thakre was also abused and beaten up by annoyed Sainiks for cross-voting. A former president of the ZP Pandurang Raut submitted his resignation to the chief executive officer in protest against the attack on Thakre. Raut said that innocent tribal members were being targeted when some urban members had cross-voted. Later, some annoyed Sainiks pelted stones at the residence of Balasaheb Aher. He was not at home, but his Santro car (MH 15 AH 1515) was damaged. Reacting on the incident, local BJP leaders said their Sena counterparts should learn to digest defeat. The district chief of the Sena, Vinayak Pande, however said that the assault on Kokate and Thakre was an "internal" matter of the party.

It may be recalled that the elections to the Legislative Council were held on Saturday last. The counting of votes was taken up yesterday and Pingale was declared elected. Pingale had secured 151 votes of first preference and 15 of second preference. Gite could get 134 votes of first preference and 12 of second preference. The third candidate in the fray, Congress nominee Gopalrao Gulve, was eliminated in the first round itself as he secured only 123 votes of first preference and 27 of second preference. The final tally of votes after the third round was: Pingale-171 votes and Gite-146 votes. Pingale celebrated his victory by taking out a victory procession in Nashik city.