The Hindu : Bhajan Lal's show leaves many unhappy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

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Other States - Haryana

Bhajan Lal's show leaves many unhappy

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH JULY 15. Discontent seems to be mounting in the faction-ridden Haryana unit of the Congress over `lacklustre' performance of the PCC president and former Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, who completes one year as the State party chief on July 31.

Several senior leaders and grassroots workers are feeling demoralised that Mr.Bhajan Lal has not only failed to unite the several factions but also faltered in launching a frontal attack on the Om Prakash Chautala Government in the State. These leaders say that Mr.Bhajan Lal's sole achievement was to organise a few rallies soon after taking over or expelling block- level or district-level office-bearers who owe allegiance to other factions. In many cases, the high command had to intervene and stay the expulsion orders.

While not agreeing with the strategy of other faction leaders to organise parallel rallies to settle scores with Mr.Bhajan Lal, these leaders felt that both the PCC chief and other leaders should sink their petty differences and concentrate on reviving the sagging morale of the workers and project the party as the only alternative to the ruling Indian National Lok Dal. If the party leaders continued fighting with each other, the virtually dormant Haryana Vikas Party of Mr.Bansi Lal could steal the show in the electoral battle whenever the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held. They expressed concern that the HVP had made inroads into the traditional Congress vote banks in recent years and Mr.Bhajan Lal had failed to consolidate this vote bank.

Another leader said that the issue of who would be the Congress Chief Minister should be left to the party high command if and when the party comes to power in the State. The primary focus of the party leaders should be on consolidating and strengthening the grassroots and wooing those who had left the party.

While not openly demanding any change of present leadership, they asserted that Mr.Bhajan Lal who had earned the sobriquet of being a wily politician and manipulator should exhibit these qualities in uniting the party by showing magnanimity towards his rivals in the party and not settling scores with them. While conceding that the party president had the prerogative of taking disciplinary action, they said this should be mellowed with wisdom.

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