India, March 12 -- Welcoming his departure, Congress city unit president Arvind Shinde said, "Ravindra Dhangekar never followed the party line or used the Congress flag in his agitations. The party gave him several opportunities, but he did little in return."

Dhangekar had been with the Congress for seven years and was elected as a corporator and later as an MLA on the party's ticket. However, Shinde alleged that he had a history of switching parties for political gains.

"He has never been loyal to any party. He joined Congress seven years ago and was given four electoral opportunities-as a candidate in municipal elections, twice for the assembly, and once for the Lok Sabha-while many loyal workers were sidelined. Yet, he chose to walk ...