MLC polls: Thakur alleges horse-trading in Amravati

Nagpur: Days before the June 18 Legislative Council polls in three Vidarbha local bodies constituencies, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was hit by an internal storm in Amravati on Thursday, with former MLA Yashomati Thakur of Congress alleging Rs15-20 crore "horse-trading" even as the party candidate Harshjeet Deshmukh remained hospitalised in Nagpur for cardiac treatment. Thakur, the party's election observer for the seat, said, "The election has moved away from grassroots workers and is now marked by corruption. Money power is influencing the process," she said taking exception to Deshmukh giving media interviews from hospital. Deshmukh, likely to undergo angioplasty, hit back and ruled out withdrawal, accusing Thakur of trying to tarnish his image.The turmoil has exposed deeper rifts in the Amravati unit of Congress, with some functionaries alleging a tacit understanding between sections of the party and sitting BJP MLC Pravin Pote, who is seeking a third term. Observers say the contest may shrink to a fight between Pote and VBA's Nilesh Vishwakarma.Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, also Amravati guardian minister, said the Mahayuti was already comfortably ahead and Congress should not have contested at all. Bawankule said the alliance was sitting above 600 votes against around 200 for Congress and MVA combined, and that the MVA itself was split.In Bhandara-Gondia, Congress-backed nominee Naresh Ishwarkar was canvassing door-to-door with Lok Sabha member Prashant Padole leading the campaign. Sakoli MLA Nana Patole had earlier alleged that Mahayuti pressure had forced two of three Congress aspirants to withdraw.In Nagpur, where the byelection is being held with two years of tenure left, Congress candidate Atul Londhe has held back-to-back outreach meetings with corporators, zilla parishad and panchayat samiti members since June 7. Londhe is in a high-stakes battle with BJP-backed Dr Rajiv Potdar.