Squabbles mar Rajasthan Cong prospects

JAIPUR, April 1: At a time when the Rajasthan Congress should be building on its unexpected electoral success in the recent Lok Sabha polls,...

JAIPUR, April 1: At a time when the Rajasthan Congress should be building on its unexpected electoral success in the recent Lok Sabha polls, partymen are busy fighting with each other. On Sunday, supporters of a former MP beat up another leader at the state Congress headquarters. The police had to be finally called to restore calm and escort former Union minister Balram Jakhar and his supporters to their cars. The party high command has since initiated a probe into the matter.

The trouble began when members of different party camps started shouting slogans for and against Jakhar, former Lok Sabha member Hari Singh and state Youth Congress president Rabhuveer Singh Meena at the headquarters. A meeting had been called of the party8217;s state executive to discuss the post-poll situation in Rajasthan, and the slogan shouters are believed to have been dissatisfied with the ticket distribution for the Lok Sabha elections.

But things got out of hand when supporters of Hari Singh beat up Dinesh Joshi, a closeconfidant of Jakhar. Congress leaders eventually had to summon the police to restore order. Joshi has lodged a case against Hari Singh and some others, while Jakhar complained to the high command, which has instituted an inquiry.

Hari Singh who lost from Sikar in the Lok Sabha polls is said to have blamed Jakhar for his loss at the meeting. The former Union Minister had been forced to opt for Bikaner though he reportedly wanted Sikar. Later, Hari Singh8217;s supporters shouted slogans alleging that he had lost due to quot;sabotagequot; by three Jakhar loyalists 8212; Parasram Mordia, Deependra Singh Shekhawat and Rajendra Pareek.

This prompted Jakhar8217;s followers to retaliate, resulting in a clash and finally Joshi8217;s thrashing.

Incidentally, according to sources, Girija Vyas too blamed quot;some senior party leadersquot; for her defeat in Udaipur at the meeting. Prabha Thakur, who was elected from Ajmer, reportedly said a party legislator had tried to sabotage her campaign.

Even after the police came, a group of Congressmembers continued slogan-shouting, now targeting State Youth Congress chief Raghuveer Singh Meena. They were reportedly angry at being left out of the state executive constituted by Meena the previous day.

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According to sources, Jakhar later met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Madhavrao Scindia, who is in charge of Rajasthan, and complained against Hari Singh. Scindia reportedly immediately got in touch with party leader Ashok Gehlot and asked him to conduct an inquiry. A three-member committee comprising state party general secretary Chandra Bhan, former minister Pradyuman Singh and MLA Emaduddin Ahmed has been set up for the purpose. Gehlot has condemned the incident and termed it unfortunatequot;.

Meanwhile, state organising secretary Parasram Mordia, who is an MLA and a close confidant of Jakhar, issued a statement here on Tuesday appealing to Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Home Minister Kailash Meghwal to order an impartial probe into the incident and get the quot;goondaelementsquot; arrested.

He alleged that the actual target of the beating was Jakhar and that Hari Singh8217;s own attitude towards his party workers had led to his defeat.