Cong pre-empts Makwana

While the Congress leadership took less than 24 hours to refer senior leader Margaret Alva8217;s case to Disciplinary Action Committee chairman A K Antony, the party took about a week before acting against former union minister Yogendra Makwana, who was sacked from his post as chairman of the AICC Scheduled Castes department after he came out in Alva8217;s support. While Makwana is considered a 8220;spent force8221; with no mass base whatsoever, the party was in a bind on sacking a Dalit leader just ahead of elections, according to Congress insiders. What forced the party8217;s hand was news that Makwana had invited the chairmen of the SC cells in all states to gather at AICC headquarters on November 15, when he planned to launch a new party from the Congress office only to embarrass the ruling party.