Nagpur, Nov 27: Ahead of the December 01 election for the state legislative council, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has warned its leader and minister for water conservation, Babsaheb Dhabekar for 'hobnobbing' with state BJP president Gopinath Munde in Akola recently. "Dhabekar (from Karanja lad) has been hobnobbing with Munde in Akola. He hosted dinner for Munde at his farmhouse and thus violated party discipline," MPCC chief Ranjit Deshmukh told here today.

"When polling for state legislative council seats from local self-government constituencies is around the corner, it is improper on part of Dhabekar to host dinner for Munde," he said adding, "there is no propriety for him to hold a meeting with Munde."

We have sent summons to him in this regard, he said. Earlier, office bearers of Akola DCC had complained to MPCC about Dhabekar, who was elected as an independent during BJP-Shiv Sena rule and was a state minister in the saffron alliance.

NCP-Congress nominee Lata Ingole is pitted against Gopikishan Bijerio of Sena-BJP for Akola council seat, polls for which would be held on December 01.

Meanwhile, for the council seat from Nagpur, Deshmukh today expressed confidence that MPCC general secretary and former MLA Avinash Pande would get votes from atleast two major factions of NCP led by minister for state Anil Deshmukh and Ramesh Bang, MLA.

Bureau Report