Prasada sends letter-bomb — Vote freely, save Congress

His theme is not new and he has been talking about it for sometime within and outside the party. But so far his confrontation with Sonia and her coterie was confined to registering protests with the party’s election chief Ram Niwas Mirdha.

Without naming Sonia, the letter, which has been despatched to members of CWC, AICC and PCC, PCC chiefs and other office-bearers right from the AICC to the block level, is a long critique of the party’s performance under Sonia and the need for bringing about a change.

‘‘Of late, our electoral base has shrunk, our influence has narrowed and our intellectual resources have diminished. The Congress has lost the centrestage in national politics. There is a growing feeling that our ideological vision has blurred. Our participation in popular causes has dwindled,’’ the senior Congress Working Committee (CWC) member has asserted.

Prasada has also recalled how the party is in a dismal situation in several large states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Soon after becoming party chief, Sonia had made revival of the party in these key states her top priority.Prasada doesn’t spare the party’s policies either: ‘‘Why is the Congress worker feeling discouraged from working in the organisation or amongst the people? Why is the Congress finding itself running on crutches of parties, groups and individuals who have always attacked and assailed our party? Why do we have to make our conscience flexible and overlook anti-Congress leaders facing the shadow of corruption?’’‘‘We shall not be able to come out with the correct answers unless the Congress workers at the grassroot level speak out their mind fearlessly.

‘’They should be enabled to act without any apprehension of reprisal from vested interests, coteries, faction leaders, sycophants and time-servers in the party,’’ Prasada has told partymen.

Apparently, apprehending that he and his supporters will be marginalised by Sonia loyalists who have the entire party machinery at their command, Prasada has called for an election which ‘‘must be dedicated to the restoration of the dignity of the humble Congress workers.’’

This, he says, can be ensured only if they are allowed to vote freely and fairly and their verdict is genuinely respected and not subverted by manipulation.

Although, Prasada’s letter has sent the Sonia camp into a tizzy, sources say 10 Janpath isn’t overly worried about its impact.

Apparently, her political aides have made all preparations to take on Prasada in the event of a contest.