Jogi’s Cong supporters indulge in factional war

Khurshid threatened a disciplinary action and said he would report the matter to Sonia Gandhi if anyone tried to harm Karma during or after the meeting. Karma, who enjoys Z-security due to the naxalites’ threat to his life, was immediately surrounded by the security officials and escorted out of the meeting.

The trouble began when Karma, while defending himself against the MLAs (mostly Jogi loyalists) of not doing enough to pin-down the state’s BJP government, accused the Congress MLAs of playing durbari to Jogi.

This morning at least 30 Congress MLAs—who enjoy Jogi’s backing—submitted a representation to Khurshid asking for removal of Karma from the CLP’s post. They claimed that they no longer had confidence in Karma. They even asked that AICC treasurer Motilal Vora be relieved from the post of PCC president as he spends more time in Delhi than Chhattisgarh.

The MLAs, who held a closed door meeting with Khurshid at Jogi’s house, also opposed re-induction of V.C. Shukla into Congress.

For the first time since being made in-charge of party affairs, Khurshid admitted that the party was torn into factions and lacked a united image in Chhattisgarh. He ruled out possibilities of an imminent changes. ‘‘All we have to do is to project a united image and fight the BJP instead of gunning down each other’’, he told mediapersons.

Regarding yesterday’s incident Khurshid said it was a part of the Congress culture and a ‘‘show of strength’’. ‘‘What happened is not new to the Congress culture. Only thing is it should not go beyond certain limits’’, he said.

Meanwhile, Karma has accused his detractors (read Jogi) of trying to crush a genuine tribal leadership in the party. The CLP leader said he would not get cowed down by the threats.

‘‘I have been chosen by Sonia Gandhi at a time when the party had lost the assembly polls and till I have her confidence there is no question of my stepping down,’’he said.