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Journalism of Courage
NOVEMBER 14: Murli Deora still evokes strong reactions: his detractors say he is better known for his growing presence on the cocktail circuit these days than his waning political clout. His supporters, on the other hand, continue to pin their hopes on him to fix the leaking vote barrel and lift sagging Congress spirits in Mumbai.
Deora’s re-election as the president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) for the third successive term has once again raised the intensity of the debate within a party which seeks to hold its own against the might of the Sena-BJP alliance. Recent debacles at the 1999 assembly and general elections and rampant factionalism has divided the Congress on the issue of its Mumbai leadership.
BRCC men continue to swear by him, but their counterparts in the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) are weighed down by feelings of resentment and resignation. Deora’s leadership at the helm of affairs proves the High Command has not learnt a lesson from the 1999 elections, they say.
"The party is in dire straits. We managed to win one Lok Sabha (out of six) seat and 11 of the 34 assembly seats in the six districts (of Mumbai). With civic elections less than a year away, the party and Deora’s leadership will face a major challenge. Senior partymen predict a rout in the forthcoming civic elections. Any gains will be godsend," says a senior MPCC office bearer.
But Deora is in no mood to entertain sceptics. "No factionalism. My victory proves the MRCC is unified. I would not have filed my nomination if there was no unanimity," he told Express Newsline. "The MPCC should put their house in order before looking into the affairs of the MRCC."
"Maybe I have gone wrong somewhere, but the city Congress is with me," is all he is willing to concede.
The accusations against Deora range from his "preference for coterie politics" to the fact that he’s been around for as long as anyone cares to remember. "Congressmen who are not his `yes’ men have been systematically kept out from being nominated as Pradesh Congress Committee delegates. He should have accomodated various groups. A massive rejuvenation programme is required. This can only happen if young blood is inducted as office bearers," said an MPCC office bearer.
Deora has his reply ready. "Who said the MRCC has not undertaken a rejuvenation exercise? The new committee has many new faces. Yes, I am certainly for the infusion of new blood. You will see the results shortly," he says.
One aspect of Deora’s abilities that strikes a chord across all factions though is his organisational skill. Despite their resentment, even the most uncharitable of his critics feel his skills in that area can’t be faulted. "His global connections are the envy of all politicians. Bill Gates visited India due to the Deora connection. How many politicians could have achieved that?" says a former chief minister who is a known detractor of Deora.
Much of that will be put to test very soon when the Congress steps on the pedal to regain lost votes from Sena pocketboroughs. It’s not going be an easy task. "The Sena is doing very significant work at the ward level. They are involving the youth. The shakha pramukhs are young and raring to go," says an observer. "The Shiv Udyog Sena has been successful in luring the youth. The Congress has to change, we have to start speaking the language of the youth. Even after two years the city NSUI president Rahul Khedekar has not constituted a committee. It is Sena’s new blood versus the old war horses of the Congress," said the MPCC office bearer.
