Cong split upsets RPI8217;s poll plans

The split in the RPI has been along the predictable lines, but what has come as a climactic surprise is the last-minute switch-over of Jogendra Kawade to Congress.

The National General Secretary whoseslant towards Pawar was in ample evidence, seemed to be ultimately guided by political expediency, as his band of followers thought that conventional wisdom demanded they align with the Sonia-led Congress.

Kawade, who along with party president Ramdas Athawale had earlier made his affiliation to Pawar Congress known, was on the horns of a dilemma in recent past over the issue. The issue was clinched after his supporters reportedly snubbed him for his pro-Pawar slant and asked him to make an alliance with the Congress as Pawar was no longer a force to reckon with in Vidarbha.8220;We find the poll scenario in Vidarbha to be like that in 1978 when the entire region rallied behind the Congress led by late Indira Gandhi. Pawar has little clout in the State except in western Maharashtra. Making an electoral alliance with the NCP would simply mean making things easier for the communal BJP-Sena combine by dividing secular votes. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that all Dalit votes in the region go to theRPI-Congress combine,quot; said Kishore Borkar, an active RPI worker from Amravati.

According to him, even if some leaders were to strike an alliance with the NCP, the Dalits would not vote for them and would rather express their solidarity with the Congress 8220;as they do not want that their votes to be wasted8221;.

quot;It was due to persistent pressure from the rank and file in the region that barring a couple of members of the national executive, including Athawale, almost all favoured an alliance with the Congress,quot; he pointed out.The support Sonia8217; refrain first came from R S Gavai, who publicly said that the RPI should extend its support to the Sonia-led Congress. His sentiments were echoed by Domansingh Nagpure, a senior party leader in the Madhya Pradesh cabinet, Shivram Mogha, Umakant Ramteke and recently, Kawade. Athawale, who advocated a tie-up with the NCP, was later marginalised in party8217;s national executive meeting held at Delhi.

Reports have it that a senior RPI leader wanting to strike an alliancewith the NCP backed out as leaders of the splinter Congress faction did not fulfill their promise to provide him a Tata Sumo.

When it was pointed out to the higher-ups in the organisation, two influential partymen were engaged to convince the leader who was told the promised would be fulfilled. The Sumo never arrived.

Talking to The Indian Express, a close lieutenant of Athawale here feels that the alliance with Pawar should not have been rejected so summarily. Pawar, he points out, was instrumental in the party making its presence in Parliament felt for the first time after its formation. The Maratha leader has also kept his promise to give a ministerial berth to Athawale even after the defeat of all the 14 RPI candidates in 1990 Assembly elections fought in tandem with the Congress. In spite of this, Pawar gave them three council seats as promised. Besides these past favours, Pawar8217;s organisational skills and abundant resources would have also helped RPI, the Athawale supporters felt.

Politicalobservers feel that the main loser of the Congress split would be the RPI factions as the Congress votes, too, would split.