‘Gaddar: Ek Maha Katha’: CM Shinde Intervenes As Gajanan Kirtikar, Ramdas Kadam Trade Barbs

The word ‘gaddar’ (traitor) has become a headache for Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde. This time, however, the reason was not Uddhav Thackeray or leaders from his camp, but two top leaders from the Shinde faction — Member of Parliament (MP) from Mumbai North West constituency Gajanan Kirtikar and senior leader Ramdas Kadam, who is also a former cabinet minister.

It started with Kirtikar’s comment that he may not contest the next Lok Sabha elections. Kadam quickly responded to it, announcing that his son Yogesh will contest from the seat. Soon, the war of words escalated to the point that both leaders called each other a “traitor” and levelled personal allegations against each other.

In a press note, Kirtikar said, “While speaking with one newspaper, Ramdas Kadam levelled allegations against me and termed me traitor, but if we see Kadam’s history one will come to know that in 1990, when I was contesting the state assembly polls from Mumbai, he was contesting from Khed constituency in Konkan. He took all party workers from Mumbai to Khed for campaigning. He wanted me to lose the election, but I won with a good margin. He also should not forget that he had travelled in Sharad Pawar’s vehicle in which he discussed his plan to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).”

He further said, “Kadam had also conspired against his brother, when the latter was contesting the local body elections in Mumbai. Kadam had also told all his party workers not to help him. People also know that in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he had worked against Shiv Sena leader Anant Gite, but again loyal Shiv Sena voters supported Gite and he won.”

Rebutting the allegations, Kadam, too, made personal attacks against Kirtikar. Speaking to news channel ABP Majha, he said, “If I speak about his character, not a single woman will vote for him. Everyone knows what he does in Pune. His son and he sit in one office. His son will be getting ticket from the Uddhav Thackeray group. This will certainly give space for some suspicions. Till a few days ago, he was telling me that I don’t want to contest the election, but once it was confirmed that the Uddhav Thackeray faction will be giving a ticket to his son, Kirtikar has started saying he wants to contest the election. Does he want to lose the election against his own son purposely so that his son can win? Also, his son uses his MP fund for all developmental work in his constituency. What is happening there?”

Shinde on Monday called Kirtikar to listen to his grievances. On Tuesday late evening, the CM called Kadam to address his concerns.

The meeting between the two lasted almost for an hour and so, after which Kadam told the media that he had buried the hatchet and would participate in the campaign for Kirtikar, if he decides to contest the upcoming Lok sabha elections. “If he doesn’t, my son Yogesh will contest from that seat,” said Kadam. “Whatever happened between us should have not happened. If I continue to argue with him, it will send wrong message to party workers,” he said.