The Hindu : Cong. infighting comes to the fore at party conventions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

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Cong. infighting comes to the fore at party conventions

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI JUNE 30. It was meant to be an exercise to rejuvenate the party and put it in the election mode. Instead, it has turned into a slanging match highlighting severe infighting within the ruling Congress in Delhi. The disruptions and indiscipline witnessed at the block level conventions of the party threaten to derail the "feel good factor'' associated with the Sheila Dikshit Government and cause immense damage to the Congress.

Political observers feel that what is even worse is that indiscipline at the grassroot level is being provoked or patronised by senior leaders in the Delhi Congress. In fact, individuals within the Government and the party have been singled out and targeted in the presence of AICC leaders who are time and again attending these conventions which have set a trend of confrontation rather than giving strength to the party. The role of the local Councillors has also come under scrutiny as they are being seen as villains of the piece by trying to oppose or show the local MLA in poor light.

A number of ugly incidents in recent days at these block level meetings have put a question mark over the whole exercise. In fact, many within the party are questioning the whole concept of holding block meetings at a time when Assembly elections are just four months away. It is felt that given the kind of allegations and counter allegations being levelled in these meetings, it would hurt the party's cause in the run up for the polls as such a situation has the potential of creating a large number of contestants for the same Assembly seat leading to creation of many power centres which is not a comfortable situation for any party.

For instance, a large number of ugly incidents, where supporters of either the local leader, MLA or Councillor have shouted down their rivals and not allowed them to speak, have come to light. For example in the Patel Nagar Assembly segment, every effort was made by certain people, supported by the senior party leaders, to humiliate the local MLA and Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister, Ramakant Gosawami. Similar incidents have taken place in R.K. Puram, Munirka, Nand Nagri, Mandawali, Vivek Vihar and some other blocks where efforts were made to humiliate the sitting MLA or the local leaders indicating the severe infighting within the party.

In fact, sources within the party said at many places it were the senior party leaders who either lashed out at their own Government for adopting anti-people and anti-poor policies or took on the local MLA or leaders in the presence of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, the AICC incharge Delhi, Ahmed Patel, and the AICC secretary, Anil Shastri. Despite having made an announcement that the achievements of the Sheila Dikshit Government would be the highlight of the party's campaign in the run up for the polls, nothing of this sort is happening and dirty linen is being washed in public time and again much to the embarrassment of the party leadership.

``It is high time the party leadership took action against those who have indulged in indiscipline and hooliganism. It should also make it clear to the senior leaders that any criticism of the Sheila Dikshit Government would not be tolerated and everybody has to work unitedly to post a victory in the Assembly polls. If the heat is not turned on these so-called senior leaders, then it such incidents could well upset the Congress applecart,'' a senior party leader remarked.

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