Discontent again in GPCC

GPCC president C D Patel, even while denying that the JDG group was treated as 8220;second class citizen8221;, said he would look into the matter. But others criticised Mehta8217;s statement. Congress general secretary J V Momin saw it as an attempt to pressurise the party leadership for more tickets for in the coming elections. 8220;They do it every time elections are round the corner,8221; Momin alleged.

Describing the group8217;s tactics as unfair, Momin said that the GPCC president had always been considerate to them. For example, a sizable chunk of the newly recast Ahmedabad City District Congress Committee belonged to this group. Besides, Ramsinh Parmar had been appointed as Kheda district president and Thakorebhai Naik elevated as GPCC vice-president from the post of Surat unit president, Momin said.

Momin also found it objectionable that the JGG men insisted on 8220;maintaining a separate identity within the party even eight years after their merger with the Congress.8221; But Rajya Sabha member Brahmkumar Bhatt, who is a prominent member of the group, asserted that they had been compelled to retain their identity because of 8220;the attitude8221; of others.

8220;For example,8221; Bhatt said, 8220;there are some districts where candidates belonging to our group have been elected president of the district party unit but their names have not been declared for fear of incurring displeasure of other party leaders. So, where they all will go? Naturally they will complain and we have to listen to them8221;.

Bhatt denied that their renewed activity was an attempt to build pressure on the state leadership for getting more party tickets. 8220;If the candidates are selected on merits, we will support them,8221; he said, adding that all was well with the party.

Nevertheless, Congress Legislature Party leader Amarsinh Chaudhary on Monday called on Chhabildas Mehta and is believed to have discussed the JDG group8217;s grievances with him. Chaudhary did not disclose what transpired between them, but said he was satisfied with the discussion.

Chaudhary denied that the JDG group members were given discriminatory treatment. 8220;There are more than five vice-presidents in the PCC from their group and four or five DCC presidents. Even they praise C D Patel, then where is the question of differential treatment?8221; he asked. As for suppressing the names of those JDG members elected as DCC presidents, Chaudhary said there might be some other reason for it, but did not elaborate.