Worried CWC sits amid the "ruins" and deliberates

This could build up over the next few weeks and such infighting is a major source of worry for the party. But, almost simultaneously, the CWC began making plans to correct the ills of the past and proceed with extreme caution in the coming election. One crucial issue is who will lead the party campaign and explain why support was withdrawn to the UF government.

Now that the prospect of a further erosion of base is a real one, CWC members stressed that the campaign must be led by “someone who can convince people” that the party did the right thing in pulling down the Gujral government.It is an indirect suggestion that party president Sitaram Kesri might not be a suitable man to lead, despite his stress yesterday that he would head the Congress campaign. CWC members loyal to Sonia Gandhi have proposed that she lead the campaign to improve the party’s prospects in the election.

All CWC members were there in today’s meeting but apparently Ghulam Nabi Azad began the discussion on the party’s dilemma. Half the CWC feels things are not in favour of the party at the moment. To correct this, a few steps were suggested. By nature these steps seek to correct many problems plaguing the party but, for precisely the same reason, they may not be implemented.

It was felt that youngsters should be promoted this time in ticket distribution, relatives and family members be kept to a minimum as candidates (this was one of the reasons why the party fared badly in 1996), names of candidates must be finalised at the earliest, unlike in the past where many were told at the last minute, dissenters with controversial backgrounds be denied tickets (reference was to Pinaki Mishra from Orissa, a known supporter of Chandraswami), and poll alliances must be arrived at quickly so no candidates are put up against friendly parties.

It was also felt that Rajya Sabha MPs must also contest so that they are at par with Lok Sabha members. For example, Rajya Sabha members like Suresh Pachouri (the Sewa Dal chairman), Ghufran-e-Azam and Ajit Jogi may be contesting this time. But it is not clear whether CWC members Pranab Mukherjee and Jitendra Prasada (both from the RS) will seek a Lok Sabha seat.