NEW DELHI, NOV 2: Congress election chief Ram Niwas Mirdha has stayed the election of 90 district Congress committees (DCC) chiefs in Bihar following charges of ``large-scale bungling by rival factions''.The decision to stay the DCC chief's elections on the eve of the party's presidential elections gives the Jitendra Prasada camp another instance of ``manipulation'' by the high command to ensure Sonia Gandhi's victory. The DCC chiefs, along with the PCC delegates, form part of the electoral college that elects the party president.Reached for comment, Mirdha said the decision to stay the DCC chief's election in Bihar was taken following submissions by senior leaders and factions. Apparently, there were instances of manipulation and bungling in the voters' list. Some of the names are said to have a ``dubious background''.The list of DCC chiefs in Bihar was announced on October 27 and the Prasada camp is said to have ``substantial'' support among partymen in the state. His supporters are expecting that the election of DCC chiefs in other states too will be stayed.Mirdha said that there was no decision yet to postpone the election of the PCC chiefs in various states, although there had been demands. The election of PCC chiefs is scheduled to be held along with that of the party president on November 12. Apparently, Sonia's supporters want them to be postponed, fearing that Prasada's decision to put up a fight may trigger off contests for the posts of PCC chief.A contest between rival factions is anticipated in several states such as Bihar, UP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Sonia camp will want the PCC elections only after her election as party president. This will enable her to appoint her nominees in the state units on the ``basis of consensus''.Mirdha admitted there were reports of bungling in the PCC lists, especially in UP where a 16-year-old boy had been named in the list from Hardoi district. He said that all grievances would be heard only after the party president's election as the complaints needed to be looked into by a specially-appointed committee. In other words, despite the bungling, bogus voters will be allowed to elect the party chief.
