Power-centre Bansal under cloud,Cong city unit fumbles leaderless

It was in 1991 that Bansal contested for the first time from the city and emerged victorious,defeating BJP leader Satya Pal Jain. Bansal lost the election in 1996 and 1998. In 2009,when the elections were to be held again,Vinod Sharma was to get the ticket from the city. However,he got embroiled in an controversy,because of his son,and Bansal managed to get the ticket. Since then,he had been representing the city as an MP.

Bansal’s clout kept growing over the years,especially after he was inducted in the Cabinet. From 2006,he has been incharge of one or the other ministries. The Congress also continued to win the municipal elections,ensuring that the party had its mayor for several years. The dependence of the party workers on Bansal kept growing. From deciding on the distribution of tickets in municipal elections,to taking a call on the mayoral candidates,Bansal became the power centre.

Former Congress councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma was overlooked for the Mayor’s post in 2011,as he had been close to former Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (retd). While Sharma was among the more vocal councillors in the party,a councillor,less experienced than him,was chosen for the post. Sharma lost the municipal election this time after an independent with affiliation to the Congress contested from the ward against him. The independent candidate joined the Congress,a few days back.

Stuck in any dilemma,the Congress workers are used to turn to him. Gradually Bansal’s family started getting involved in the affairs of the city. Even B B Bahl,who has been the president of the party city unit for 13 years,was largely confined to being a rubber stamp.

All these factors eventually eroded any chances of new leaders to emerge. A Congress worker said,“For us,Bansal was the party high command. It was rare for any leader of the party to go and meet the senior leaders in Delhi. In fact,even if he got the slightest hint of opposition,he would ensure that the person got sidelined. This kept a check on everyone”.

Though there are leaders,who have been part of the Congress for decades,they have not been entrusted with many responsibilities. Even though there were murmurs of resentment among the cadre,there have not been many vocal opponents.

Congress president B B Bahl said,“The Congress will extend support to Bansal. He will emerge innocent from this controversy. In case the high command decides that a change of leadership is required,several leaders will emerge from the city. But,this need will not arise”.

However,talks on how some other Central leaders with their base in the city may be roped in have been emerging. The city is home to several party leaders like Union Ministers Kapil Sibal,Manish Tewari and Ambika Soni.