Congress panel polls a farce

PATNA, May 25: The row over the Bihar Congress organisational polls has deepened with the three party heavy-weights deciding to boycott the...

PATNA, May 25: The row over the Bihar Congress organisational polls has deepened with the three party heavy-weights deciding to boycott the elections alleging 8220;blatant violation8221; of the party constitution in conduct of the elections.

Former Union Minister Jagannath Mishra has announced that his supporters would hold 8220;parallel elections8221; if their grievances are not looked into.

Besides Mishra, senior party members from Rajya Sabha, Gyan Ranjan and S S Ahluwalia, who held a meeting of Congress activists here on Friday, had launched a scathing attack on Pradesh Returning Officer PRO S K Singhla and BPCC chief Sarfaraj Ahmed for violating party constitution in conducting organisational elections and said they would not not 8220;take it lying down8221;.

8220;There is an attempt to isolate and slight me and my supporters by a section of Congress leaders and I will fight such actions while remaining in the party,8221; Mishra said.

He alleged that notwithstanding Congress president Sitaram Kesri8217;s decision spurning the authorisation by the BPCC to nominate office bearers from block to state level, the district returning officers DROS had collected authorisation resolutions from those aspiring to become PCC delegates.

Mishra alleged that the nomination papers for PCC membership were accepted only when they were accompanied by signed withdrawal forms and said those refused to sign withdrawal forms were not allowed to file nominations.

He added that the Kesri should nominate PCC members giving adequate representation to all sections in the party. He also charged PRO Singhla with 8220;creating a situation which may lead to split in the party.8221;

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Singhla called Mishra8217;s allegation 8220;false and unfounded8221;. He said that all the three party8217;s Rajya Sabha members from Bihar were 8220;critics8221; of Kesri ever since his appointment as AICC president.

In West Bengal, state Congress general secretary Pradyut Guha told The Indian Express, 8220;WBPCC chief has made it very clear to both the aspiring leaders Pawar and Pilot that elections would not be in the interest of the party, particularly when the Congress is in a crisis.8221; Guha informed that important leaders of Mitra8217;s camp, including the interim PCC chief, were leaving for Delhi tonight to hold talks with Central leaders and to 8220;try to dissuade the leaders going for contest.8221; In case their attempt failed, 8220;WBPCC would vote for Sitaram Kesri,8221; Guha added.

Meanwhile, Mamata camp, a little upset owing to the fact that its boycott of the PCC election has left them with almost no organisational power to take sides at this crucial hour, thought it would be premature to get involved in the AICC power-struggle.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee organisational elections appeared to have been reduced to a farce today, with three groups in the faction-ridden state unit holding parallel polls to elect members and presidents for DCCs in several parts of the state. AICC-appointed ad hoc president K V Thangkabalu8217;s leadership suffered a serious setback with former TNCC president Kumari Ananthan announcing the election of DCC presidents for 11 district committees in the state.