Pune Congress upset after Vishwajeet Kadam’s name is omitted in event

Congress witnessed internal rumbling in Pune for not mentioning Maharashtra Youth Congress leader Vishwajeet Kadam’s name in a programme organised by Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehzad Poonawalla at the party office where former minister Shashi Tharoor was invited for a lecture. However, Congress functionaries tried to downplay the issue later.

The moment Mr Tharoor entered the Congress Bhavan in Shivajainagar area, supporters of Vishwajeet Kadam, president of Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, started raising slogans in his favour, alleging Mr Kadam was not taken into confidence while organising the programme and the party protocol was not followed. Mr Tharoor was here to deliver a speech on ‘Social Media and Political Communication’.

Mr Kadam’s supporters did not allow Mr Poonawalla and city Congress chief Ramesh Bagwe to start the programme. Mr Tharoor, who rose to speak, tried to pacify the gathering and said, “Vishwajeet is my friend and we often meet in Delhi and I appeal all of you to calm down.” He also said Mr Kadam was not in the city and would be coming late night. “And I will certainly meet him before leaving the city,” he added.

After repeated pleas by Mr Tharoor, Mr Kadam’s supporters allowed him to speak. Raising slogans once Mr Poonawalla and Mr Bagwe rose to speak, Mr Kadam’s supporters even tore posters of the event outside the Congress Bhavan. Mr Kadam did not comment on the episode but said the party workers not only hailed him but also hailed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Mr Tharoor.