It was 1920 that saw Mahatma Gandhi’s emergence as the leader just a few days after Lokmanya Tilak’s death. Nagpur witnessed the shift of leadership during the Congress convention that took place in city on December 26, 1920. It had a different glory. Then there was Congress, one and only one party. Things have changed now after 100 years, the glory has faded. Though Congress now is telling everybody that then even the leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were with it, today’s Congress is functional divided in several factions. The fact became clear on Saturday when the party celebrated centenary of its Nagpur convention.

 

 

 

Like other programmes this one also was held at two separate venues in presence of different leaders with Dr Nitin Raut, a common factor. Probably after several years Devadia Bhavan, the office of city Congress was illuminated to welcome the leaders. All the leaders were not present at one place. One programme was held at Devadia Bhavan while another took was conducted at Gandhi statue, Chitar Oli. The convention in 1920 was held at Congress Nagar that is why the locality named after the party. But no function was held at Congress Nagar on Saturday when the party celebrated centenary of that event.

 

A very senior leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ had, a few days ago, revealed that no function would be held for the celebration of completion of 100 years of the convention this year due to coronavirus pandemic. He said that the party had planned function next year. Surprisingly, two factions, without any coordination, planned the functions at different venues bringing fore the factionalism. At Devadia Bhavan, the function was attended by Sunil Kedar, Minister of Animal Husbandry; Dr Nitin Raut, Guardian Minister, Vikas Thakre, President of Nagpur Congress Committee and MLA; Kishor Gajbhiye, Ramkrishna Ojha, Atul Kotecha, Atul Londhe, Vishal Muttemwar, Irshad Ali, Dharam Patil, Prashant Dhawad, Sanjay Mahakalkar, Sheikh Husain and others. Former Minister Vilas Muttemwar could not attend the function due to ill-health, while the newly elected MLC Adv Abhijit Wanjari could not turn up as he is being treated for Covid-19. Second function was held at Gandhi statue where nobody of those present at Devadia Bhavan turned up except Dr Nitin Raut. Former minister Satish Chaturvedi, ex-MP Gev Awari, Dr Babanrao Taywade, Tanaji Wanve, former MLA Ashok Dhawad remained present. This has been happening with Congress everywhere.

 

Even the historic function like the completion of 100 years of Congress convention in the city that brought the paradigm shift in the party leadership failed to bring the two groups together. Congress is clearly divided into two -- Chaturvedi and Muttemwar factions, and no function is an exception to them. But several other leaders that work in Corporation never attend any of the party function. At both places leaders recollected the memories they heard from other leaders, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was garlanded. With two factions working in Congress camp, it should stop patting its back for the victory of Adv Abhijit Wanjari, for the campaign of whom during Graduates polls they all got united. It was because Adv Wanjari doesn’t have any animosity with anyone and his own campaign. This is clear now.