The Hindu : Cong audit paints a dull picture

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

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Cong audit paints a dull picture

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI MARCH 5. The results of the self-appraisal performance exercise carried out by the Sheila Dikshit Government are certainly not a cause for cheer. It is not only the party MLAs but also Ministers who are running behind in the electoral battle and indications are that if remedial measures to tone up the Government and discipline the party are not taken immediately, things could drift apart during the next few months.

The exercise has been carried out extensively as part of an internal assessment by the party to ascertain the performance of the party MLAs, their functioning, mass support among the party workers and electorate, chances of re-election and what all points they should work on to remove the weaknesses. "This is a pre-board examination. A sort of wake up call for the MLAs to brush up their act and fine tune their strategies before facing the electorate during the November Assembly polls,'' remarked the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, when asked about the internal assessment carried out by her Government.

Insiders in the party revealed that although there was no strong resentment or anger against the Sheila Dikshit Government as such, but the individual performance of certain MLAs has been very disappointing. Although, nobody was willing to reveal what were the findings of the survey with regard to the standing of the party MLAs in the present scenario, but sources informed that it was a cause for concern. It is learnt that a number of party MLAs including some Ministers were not in a comfortable position and needed to immediately take measures to firm up their performances in their constituencies which were suffering on several fronts.

In fact, party MLAs, not all of them, have been dispatched detailed letters about the findings of the assessment in order to enable them to take stock of the situation. A criteria for allotting percentage points has been used to assess the various factors involving the individual MLA in his constituency. A widespread interaction has been carried out with the constituents and the party workers before arriving at a conclusion. It is learnt that the Education Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan, tops the averages with 72 percentage points as far as performance, popularity and re-election is concerned. He continues to enjoy unprecedented support among the party workers and masses in his constituency.

Some of the other persons who have got plus points and continue to enjoy strong support in their constituencies include the dissident party MLA and DPCC spokesman, Mukesh Sharma, who popularity has gone up according to the latest findings. Apart from him, others enjoying the feel good factor include the Poorvanchal leader and party MLA, Mahabal Mishra, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Sushila Jaikishen, Mangat Ram Singhal, Bhisham Sharma to name a few. Those who are facing a slide in the prospects include party MLA from Tughlakabad, Sishpal, Saket MLA, Tek Chand, Charan Singh Kandera, Amrish Gautam, Radhey Shyam Khanna and Ramakant Goswami.

Interestingly, according to the internal assessment, the Congress voters are of the view that atleast 40 per cent of the sitting MLAs should not be given party nomination again while that among the BJP voters the urge is for 54 per cent change in sitting legislators. The assessment comes close on the heels after the Congress party has registered a massive win in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. However, it is believed that the party would have to set its house in order and ensure discipline within its ranks and enhanced performance of the Government in order to stall the BJP from ruling Delhi.

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