Ralegan Siddhi:
Veteran social crusader Anna Hazare on Monday gave his nod to Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch Jaisingh Mapare to contest next month's Zilla Parishad (district council) elections on a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket, an aide said.
Mr Mapare, who has always been an NCP activist, had broken all ties with the party during the past one year when he was actively involved in Mr Hazare's anti-corruption movement around the country.
"However, recently I was approached by NCP leaders and activists requesting that I should contest the Feb 7 Zilla Parishad elections on the party ticket. I sought Anna-ji's blessings and permission, which he granted," Mr Mapare told media persons Monday.
Incidentally, the NCP had cooled down to Mr Hazare and Team Anna after the Nov 24 episode in which party chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was slapped by a mentally-disturbed man in New Delhi.
Mr Hazare's initial reaction was to ask why Mr Pawar was slapped only once, but later he had expressed regret over his reaction. However, this was followed by further Pawar-bashing, which evoked a strong reaction from Mr Pawar and the NCP.
However, Mr Hazare's supporters claim that the latest development only proved that he is "absolutely impartial and non-political" in his approach as far the people are concerned.
"Despite the minor controversy with the NCP recently, Mr Hazare has given the green signal to Mapare to contest on that party's ticket. It shows his large heartedness and forgiving nature," said his personal aide, A Shaikh.
In mid-October last year, Mr Mapare had led a delegation from Ralegan Siddhi to the capital to meet Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi with Mr Hazare's blessings, but returned without meeting him.
After the embarrassment, Mr Mapare publicly declared that he would never go to meet Rahul Gandhi in the future even if he was invited by Mr Gandhi.
The Congress had downplayed the incident, saying it happened due to "a communication gap."