Former Maharashtra MLA Ashish Deshmukh has termed it unfortunate that he has been issued a show-cause notice by the Maharashtra Congress disciplinary committee. Deshmukh is of the opinion that the suspension of his primary membership in the party is part of a “larger conspiracy” as he has been questioning the style of functioning of party leaders. The former BJP MLA from Katol in Nagpur joined the Congress in 2019 and put up a nomination against Devendra Fadnavis from the Nagpur South West seat.
The show-cause notice was issued on April 5 for Deshmukh’s comments claiming that MPCC president Nana Patole receives money from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He suggested that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the OBC community over his “Modi surname” remarks. Deshmukh justified his remarks, saying that a suggestion coming from him was in the interest of the party, and his intention is to make sure the OBC community felt respected and pacified so that the party had their support. He further added that Gandhi had already apologized in the Rafale case and for wrongfully attributing the ‘chowkidar chor hai’ jibe.
The Maharashtra Congress has numerous OBC leaders in the party. Deshmukh thinks that the leaders should do more to raise their voices and to bring the OBC community back into the Congress fold. He opined that a show-cause notice only weakened the Congress and the party leaders should use their words and actions in the interest of the OBC’s.
Apart from the Maharashtra Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party has also announced an OBC outreach programme and its governments in the centre and states are also coming up with schemes to benefit the OBC community. Failing to give attention to this potential voter base, Deshmukh believes this would lead to the Congress’s downfall.
Deshmukh is Ranjit Deshmukh’s son, the former state Congress chief. He is dedicated to the OBC’s welfare and development and claims to be doing his part for them.
The Congress is an established democratic party and its name is recognized for its democratic spirit. Deshmukh considers it unfortunate that he has been issued a show-cause notice for making a democratic suggestion. Ultimately, he is undeterred by the current notice and is determined to fight for the cause of the OBC community.