Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi
After the Congress’ debacle in Lok Sabha elections, factionalism is back to haunt the party across state units with central leadership continuing to be in absentia.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was unavailable to leaders for appointments for the 10th day in row since he tendered his resignation to the party working committee on May 25. No one in the party has a clue about “changes” Gandhi is contemplating after the CWC authorised him to overhaul the organisation.
The only indication of change came recently from UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, who while addressing the Congress parliamentary party recently said “several decisive steps to strengthen the party are being discussed.” The nature of these steps or the discussions leading to these steps remains unknown.
Meanwhile, factionalism is back to haunt Congress state units. In Punjab, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is eager to change the portfolio of cabinet colleague and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu after the latter accused the CM of a friendly match with Akali Dal’s Badals in LS polls. In Haryana, the situation is getting worse after the party drew a blank in the LS polls.
The Tribune has learnt that AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad walked out of a meeting of state leaders he had called yesterday to discuss the upcoming Assembly elections. Azad was miffed at the unprecedented show of bitterness by leaders of warring Haryana factions with state chief Ashok Tanwar clashing with some sitting MLAs who questioned his functioning and sought his replacement. Azad, however, made it clear to Haryana unit that no changes were possible until Rahul’s future role is ascertained.
Rajasthan Congress organisation has also been on the boil since reports that Rahul ticked off CM Ashok Gehlot at the May 25 CWC meeting for pushing the candidature of his son in Jodhpur, but failing to secure even a single seat out of 25 in Rajasthan. State deputy CM Sachin Pilot’s supporters have been actively targeting Gehlot.
The situation in Madhya Pradesh is no better. CM Kamal Nath continues to face internal divisions there as former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, while speaking at the CWC meeting, asked for more power to state leaders. In poll-bound Maharashtra, Congress faced a major desertion by former Leader of Opposition R Vikhe Patil amid reports of more leaders keen to jump ship ahead of state elections.
In Karnataka, the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition is shaky and veteran Congress men Roshan Baig and Ramalinga Reddy have openly accused the leadership of ignoring party seniors to accommodate outsiders in the state cabinet.
