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Pune: EVEN as the Congress is struggling to get a candidate who could win them the Pune Lok Sabha seat, Gopaldada Tiwari, a long-time loyalist Congress leader, has emerged as the hot favourite for contesting the prestigious seat.
Gopaldada Tiwari, who is currently the spokesperson of Maharashtra Congress, is a former corporator, an activist to the core and is heading the Rajiv Gandhi Smarak Samiti which is doing lot of social work and helping uplift the lives of the poor.
Known for his mass contact an mass following, Mr Tiwari has been active Congress man on Pune’s political terrain for more than four dedaces. He has friends in all parties, many of whom have promised to secretly work for him in case the Congess fields him from Pune Lok Sabha seat.
What tilts the scales in favour of Mr Tiwari is the fact that other candidates like Mohan Joshi and Vishwajeet Kadam have lost by a massive margin to BJP candidates in last two general elections. And therefore other Congress leaders are afraid of sticking their neck out.
The BJP has established solid hold over Pune seat. The Congress is struggling to find a candidate who will at least put up a semblance of a fight.
Mr Tiwari, many believe, would be appropriate choice for the Congress. He has been a thorough and thorough a Congress man. Many say he is a born Congress man who never dumped and ditched the party and there is no chance of his leaving the party in future no matter what pressure the BJP brings upon him. Like Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena loyalist, Mr Tiwari will prefer to go to jail than bowed down to BJP’s tactis. And Rahul Gandhi likes such upright and honest leaders, says a Congress leader.
In the central parts of the city where Mr Tiwari who runs a hotel which gives sumptous meal at a an affordable price is a popular figure. He is available 24 X 7 for citizens of Pune. He rushes to the help of citizens no matter time it is whether it is early morning or midnight. He never gives excuses, say his associates.
Mr Tiwari is not a money-minded or materialistic kind person. He believes in doing social work 24 X 7 and every minute of his time is devoted to the people of Pune, says another Congress leader.
As corporator of Pune, Mr Tiwari had taken several public oriented initiatives like getting good and pothole-free roads for citizens, parking facilities, roads in river bed, put pressure on civic body to resolve increasing garbage problem and choked drain issues. He was hailed as the most popular corporator of Pune at one point of time.
As a spokesperson of the Maharashtra Congress, he articulates party’s views almost daily, holds press conferences and rails against Modi Sarkar’s wrong policies and measures. His views and news are carried by all prominent news media, television channels and digital platforms. He has been scathing on the Modi Sarkar right from the time he was appointed the spokesperson of Maharashtra Congress. No other Congress leader, other than Prithviraj Chavan, takes on the Modi Sarkar like Mr Tiwari does. Close associates of Mr Tiwari said the BJP was trying to woo him, but Mr Tiwari, known for his loyalist credentials, flatly refused to jump the ship like other opportunistic Congress leaders.
Small wonder, then several prominent citizens of Pune who have carved a name for themselves have come forward and urged top Congress leaders to field Mr Tiwari from the Pune Lok Sabha seat. They believe that if Gopaldada, as he is popularly known among the masses in Pune and beyond, is fielded even BJP and other party leaders and workers will campaign for him on the sly Such is his close rapport with people from diverse sections of the society.
Among the prominent citizens who have stepped forward and raised the decibel level for fielding Amcha Gopaldada are:
Rajeev Jagtap- (Founder-Abhinav Shikshan Institute), Subhash Thorve (Hon Vice President-Pune City Congress and President Akhil Vanjari Samaj) Milind Gunjal- (Former Captain, Mahapashtra Ranji Cricket), Prof. Anil Gore (Marathi Kaka, Samarth Marathi Institute), Pai Aba Pawar (Vice Maharashtra Kesari), Prashant Jadhav- (Vice President Niradhar Cell, Pune Congress)Rashmikumar Abrol (Agricultural Expert), Anna Gosavi (Hon. General Secretary – OBC Cell Congress), Bhola Wanjale (Working President – Akhil Mandai Mandal), Ramchandra Shedge – (National Coach – Kabaddi), Umesh Thakur (Ganghi Vichar Sangthan), Sanjay Mankar – (Bank Employees Association), Ganesh Chaudhe- (knowing Gandhi), Dr. Abhijit Babar (Dr. Cell Maha. Pradesh Congress), Adv Manisha Patil (Writer – Literary),Adv Faiyaz Shaikh (General Secretary-W. Maharashtra Intak), Adv Sandeep Tamhankar (Lawyer Cell, Pune Congress), Adv Srikant Patil (Lawyer Cell), Adv Ravindra Ransingh- President Jan Sangharsh Samiti Pune, Rajendra Kharade- (President PMPML Workers Union Intak) , Aba Tarwade- (Entrepreneur), Sandeep Barve- (Vice President Yuva Kranti Dal), Nandkumar Papal (President – Pune City Lions Club)
Ghanshyam Nimhan (President Destitute Cell Congress), Sanjay More-Secretary Congress Pune City, Ms. Nalini Dorge- (Vice President P.M. Destitute Cell Congress), Sanjay Abhang (Vice President Khadakwasla Vidhan Sabha Congress),
Mahesh Ambike- (Vice President OBC Federation), Suresh Parkhi (Executive Secretary, Mulshi Congress) Shri Vaghulkar Guruji (Teachers Union – State General Secretary),Nitin Paigude (Kunjir Talim Sangh), Prasanna Patil (Honor President – Pune Medicine Distributors), Ganesh More (Congress Worker), Chayatai Jadhav – Vice President Mahila Congress),
Adv Swapnil Jagtap (Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Committee), Adv Santosh Jadhav (Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Committee),
Ramakant Pathak- Senior Gandhian, Prahlad Mistry- (Member Superstition Eradication Committee Maharashtra),
Madhukar Baburao Sanas- (Ex-Corporator Pune), Suryakant Marne- (Vice President Pune City Congress), Adv Rajendra Kalebere (Lawyer Cell), Sanjay Chowgule- General Secretary, Kisan Congress) Sambhaji Paigude (Senior Congressman), Shankar Shirke, Vinayak Patil, Prashant Khaladkar, Ganesh Shinde- (Dietitian).
All these prominent and popular personalities of Pune have urged Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to field Mr Gopaldada Tiwari from Pune seat if the Congress intends win the seat, hands down.
