Maharashtra Congress leader's displeasure has come to light over Muslim candidate not getting ticket in Lok Sabha elections. Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan resigned from the Congress Campaign Committee, expressing his displeasure over not giving ticket to any Muslim leader in Maharashtra. He wrote a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge saying, 'I will not campaign for the Lok Sabha elections because the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) group has not fielded any Muslim candidate.'
Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan expressed his displeasure
Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan wrote in the letter that out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, MVA has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate. Many Muslim organisations, leaders and party workers across Maharashtra were hoping that Congress would field at least one candidate from the minority community, but unfortunately that did not happen. Congress needs Muslim votes, but not candidates. Due to all these reasons I will not be able to face Muslims and I have no answer. Therefore I am resigning from the Maharashtra Congress Campaign Committee.
Congress is contesting elections on 17 seats in Maharashtra
Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan has also sent the resignations of Mukul Wasnik, Ramesh Chennithala, Nana Patole and Prithviraj Chavan to the Congress President. Under the seat agreement of Mahavikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (Uddhav) is contesting on 21 seats, Congress on 17 seats and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) on 10 seats.