24 January,2026 03:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Vijay Wadettiwar. File Pic
The Congress has resolved an internal dispute related to the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC) following a high-level meeting of party leaders, Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI.
The meeting was convened after 13 Congress corporators - out of the party's 27 elected members in the CMC - on Friday registered themselves as a separate group amid a disagreement between Wadettiwar and local Congress MP Pratibha Dhanorkar. The 13 corporators were aligned with Dhanorkar. Subsequently, the remaining 14 corporators backing Wadettiwar reached the venue and objected to the registration.
At the online meeting, it was decided that the Congress group leader in the CMC would be finalised by state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Decisions regarding the mayor and the standing committee will be taken by Wadettiwar in consultation with Dhanorkar, reported PTI.
The meeting was attended by Congress Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, along with Sapkal, Dhanorkar and Wadettiwar.
In the 66-member CMC, the BJP has secured 23 seats while the Congress has won 27. A minimum of 34 corporators is required to form the civic body government.
Wadettiwar said the leaders held detailed discussions on the political situation in Chandrapur following the recent confusion over the formation of the Congress corporators' group. It was also decided that Dhanorkar would handle the decision on the mayor's post, while the deputy mayor's post would be allotted to those supporting the Congress in forming the civic body government, reported PTI.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Wadettiwar said he had taken a conciliatory approach in the larger interest of the party. "As a party leader, one has to remain patient. Even if someone criticises or abuses you, you must continue to work for the organisation," he said, adding that he has worked for the Congress for 25 years and would continue to take decisions in the party's interest, reported PTI.
He alleged that the BJP had begun efforts to form the government in Chandrapur by offering money and positions to corporators, claiming that some were offered Rs 1 crore and posts to switch sides. "Both the Congress and the BJP need support from others to form the government. The question is whether money and posts will work, and whether independents will fall for it," he said.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Wadettiwar said senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal received a clean chit in the Maharashtra Sadan case after joining the BJP-led alliance. "Once you go to the BJP, all allegations are washed away. They have a powerful machine that cleans everyone who joins them," he said, reported PTI.
He also questioned who would compensate Bhujbal for the two-and-a-half years he spent in jail in the case and what action would be taken against those who had levelled allegations against him.
(With inputs from PTI)
