Chaitra Shuddha Dwadashi
Kalamadi defeated in ‘Lok Sansad’
Pune (Maharashtra): Social Organizations from Pune had arranged a program called ‘Lok Sansad’ where candidates from all parties contesting the election were invited. In this program, Suresh Kalamadi, present Congress MP sent Abhay Chhajed, the city-president of Congress as his representative since he was unable to attend the program. (Representatives elected by people have no time to attend ‘Lok Sansad’. How will they then attend to people’s problems? – Editor) The members of audience, therefore, got angry and they drove away Chhajed. This has resulted in humiliation of Chhajed and Congress. There is discussion going on in the city that as elections are approaching, people have given their verdict against Kalamadi.
‘Sajag Nagarik Manch’, Samartha Bharat Vyaaspith and Loktantra Vikas Manch, these 3 social organizations had arranged ‘Lok Sansad’ at Saraswati School in which all candidates contesting election from Pune were invited. Candidates like Shri. Anil Shirole of BJP, D. S. Kulkarni of Bahujan Samaj Party, Shri. Ranajit Shirole of MNS so also S/Shri. Arun Bhatia and Vikram Boke were present; but Kalamadi could not attend. Half an hour after the program started, Abhay Chhajed reached the venue. The organizers of the program announced that Chhajed had come to represent Kalamadi as he was unable to attend and he would present the Congress viewpoints. But the members of audience started shouting that ‘such replacement would not do’, ‘send him back’, ‘don’t allow anyone who has not done anything for Pune’ etc. (Such public fury is a beginning of revolution at thought level against inactive elected representatives – Editor). Shri. Vivek Velankar, the chief organiser tried to explain that Kalamadi had earlier conveyed his inability to attend and Chhajed was invited for the program by the organizers and he should be allowed to speak. This explanation enraged the audience even more and some people boycotted the program raising slogans against Kalamadi. Shri. Velankar judged the situation and announced that he respected feelings of the people and requested Chhajed not to speak after rendering apology to him. People, however, did not keep quiet and they demanded that Chhajed should sit in the audience whereas some started shouting to drive away Chhajed. The commotion was so severe that Chhajed had to leave the venue. Only then people became calm and the program could be carried on.
Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
