Not keen to become MP, MLA or CM but build Congress in Maharashtra, says new state unit chief

Sapkal also sought cooperation from party workers as well as leaders to revive Congress in Maharashtra and bring it back to power again.

Mumbai: As he took over the reins of crisis-ridden Maharashtra Congress, new state unit chief Harshawardhan Sapkal on Tuesday declared that he does not want to become an MLA, MP or Chief Minister but would rather work towards building the party organisation.

The statement of Sapkal, who hails from Buldhana, came before the party’s top brass in Mumbai when he took over as the President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) from Nana Patole.

Besides Patole, several others were present, including AICC in-charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, former Chief Ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, Congress Working Committee member and state Working President Naseem Khan, AICC media and communication department chairman Pawan Khera, AICC minority department chairman and MP Imran Pratapgarhi, and veteran leader Balasaheb Thorat.

“I want to tell Chennithala that I will not vie for any other post, including chief minister. I don't want to become CM, MP or MLA. I will work to ensure that Congress returns to power and a Congress leader becomes chief minister," said Sapkal.

He sought cooperation from party workers as well as leaders to revive Congress in Maharashtra and bring it back to power again. "If we don't try, we will not succeed," he said, adding that he wants “honest and committed workers” for rebuilding Congress in the state.