Mumbai: Rahul Gandhi loyalist Maharashtra Lok Sabha MP Rajeev Satav is not contesting Lok Sabha election this year. Satav is sitting MP on Hingoli seat. Congress party today announced Subhash Wankhede as its candidate on this seat.

Satav is incharge of Congress party for Gujarat, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Diu-Daman – The area which contains 26 Lok Sabha seats.

In 2014, Satav had defeated rival Shiv Sena candidate and former MP Subhash Wankhede by 1,600 votes. Satav was one of the two Congress candidates to win from Maharashtra, other being former chief minister Ashok Chavan.

Hindustan Times report quoting some Congress leaders say the re-election won’t be easy for Satav and he would like to take a lot of efforts for the same. Besides, he is now not on good terms with Chavan who had played a role in his victory in 2014.

The report last week quoted Satav as saying: “As an in-charge, I have to look after 26 seats in Gujarat and two in Dadra, Diu and Nagar Haveli and it’s a huge responsibility. I would not be able spend sufficient time in Hingoli, if I am asked to contest the election. I expect the party to decide my role. It would be easier for me to concentrate in Gujarat if another candidate is given Hingoli. If party asked me to shoulder both the responsibilities, I would not mind to doing so.”

Interestingly Congress has named Subhash Wankhede as party’s candidate for Hingoli seat.