CWC puts off debate on election debacle

That rumblings within the party have begun in right earnest was evident today when the 11-member introspection committee, headed by A K Antony, held a meeting with senior leaders, MLAs and defeated MPs of Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana and was told in nouncertain terms that the poor performance in their states was due to inept leadership, infighting and weak organisation at the grassroot level.

Disgruntled and defeated MPs from Rajasthan are said to have launched a direct attack on state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, holding his government8217;s 8220;lacklustre8221; performance and the poor handling of the sensitive issue of reservation for the Jat community responsible for the party8217;s poor performance.

Some leaders also demanded a change in leadership in the state and accused as many as five ministers in Rajasthan of working against the party8217;s interests. Interestingly, Chief Minister Gehlot had yesterday blamed the party8217;s poor performance on a pro-Vajpayee wave in the state and the inability of the party to properly project Sonia Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.

Using the committee as a platform to settle inner party rivalries, leaders and MLAs opposed to the Haryana PCC chief B S Hooda, including former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, are believed tohave held him responsible for the party8217;s disastrous performance in the state where it did not win a single Lok Sabha seat. They accused the PCC chief and his supporters of sabotaging the electoral prospects of at least three senior state leaders who had stood for elections this time.

Also, the decision to first support the Bansi Lal government and later withdraw it was considered a major reason for the disenchantment for the party8217;s supporters in the state. A senior state leader is said to have told the committee that the state leadership was not consulted before the move was made and that this practice of running the party8217;s state organisations from Delhi had cost the Congress dear.

Hooda, who also lost from Rohtak, however rejected the charge and said the Kargil issue, bogus voting and a pro-Vajpayee wave were responsible for the defeat.

Rebel leaders from Delhi, where the party again lost all the seven seats blamed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit8217;s poor performance, infighting and wrong choice ofcandidates in some constituencies as prime factors for the drubbing.

As part of the ongoing exercise to determine the reasons for the party8217;s electoral debacle, the introspection committee will be meeting leaders and workers from all over the country in a state-wise exercise. The committee is likely to submit its report by the end of November.

Meanwhile, sticking to its pre-election stand, the party has ruled out going in for any coalition governments. The CWC resolution yesterday stated 8220;in keeping with the spirit of Pachmarhi and in contrast to the ruling coalition, the Congress will not not have recourse to unstable, unviable, opportunistic alliances united only by the lust for office.8221;