While Suresh Kalmadi, MP, has already started the campaign to reach out to the voters, his opponents have objected to the move pointing out “when the AICC has not declared the candidature, how anyone can start the campaign.”

There is a strong faction opposing Kalmadi in the city Congress. Mohan Joshi, who contested 1999 Lok Sabha elections and secured second position then, has stakes his claim this time. There are also other names in doing rounds including Ulhas Pawar, Anant Gadgil, Sharad Ranpise and Balasaheb Shivarkar, who are opposing Kalmadi’s candidature.

Sources said the anti-Kalmadi faction is all geared up to claim the candidature for one of the Congress loyalists’. “The failure at PMC elections was due to Kalmadi and it will be better that he is not given the candidature,” said a “loyalist” leader.