Cong in a flux over a 'criminal' granted ticket for TMC polls

Thane, Feb 3: Congress poll managers are red faced over a move to award ticket to a party functionary having criminal antecedents for February 16 municipal polls, sources said on Friday.

The move to name former standing committee chairman of Thane Municipal Corporation Bhaskar Shetty as the official candidate has not gone down well with the Congress rank and file, they said, adding the matter has been brought to the notice of the higher-ups who have taken cognisance of the same.

Shetty was disqualified and debarred from contesting any elections by the Konkan divisional commissioner for filing a fake caste certificate. The former corporator in the past was externed from the city by Thane Police for his role in a land dispute, besides he being an accused in a number of criminal cases, including one pertaining to opening fire on a citizen.

However, the party seems helpless now as Shetty has already filed his nomination. Meanwhile, Congress and NCP have reached an understanding over a contentious issue of three wards in Mumbra region of the district, sources said.

Thane city NCP president and MLA Jitendra Bunty Awhad has an uphill task ahead as former MLC Subash Bhoir who recently joined Shiv Sena could dampen the prospects of the party. Bhoir is named as the Shiv Sena candidate for post of city Mayor.

PTI