Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Jan 19: Reiterating their resolve of not having any pre-poll alliance with National Conference (NC), the top brass of the Congress Party yesterday apprised All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi of their reservations against having any pre-poll understanding with their coalition partner as they feel it is likely to affect their poll prospects in the State.
The Congress leaders have unanimously opposed the decision of having any pre-poll alliance with NC and publically aired their views against any understanding in view of the political implication of such a decision in forthcoming elections.
The State Congress leaders, one after another expressed reservations about any alliance, when the AICC Vice-President after his anointment as the Campaign Chief for the Congress party for 2014 Lok Sabha elections was holding one-to-one interaction with delegations from respective States. Besides, Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, their colleagues from few other States including J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana were also present at the meeting on that occasion.
Interestingly, sources said, the occasion also witnessed a squabble between Rahul Gandhi and a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from the border State. The senior leader, while emphatically favouring pre-poll alliance stated that the party should have an understanding either with NC or even Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Earlier, sources said several Congress leaders from Jammu and even Kashmir region categorically stated that the rank and file of the party was against any understanding. “National Conference had not taken Congress on board, while taking several important decisions in the State. The latest instance has been on the incorporation of 73rd and 74th Amendments in the State Panchayati Raj Act, where the State Government had repeatedly failed to implement the decision on one pretext or the other”, the leader alleged. Even, Congress general secretary and in charge JK Affairs, Ambika Soni in September, last year had given two month deadline to State Government for inclusion of these Amendments.
The leaders also told Rahul Gandhi that several important decisions taken by the Congress Ministers were scuttled by the NC leadership at different levels. “On several occasions, the Congress leadership of the State was not taken into confidence despite the formation of a Coordination Committee”, the leaders alleged.
The leaders also commented that the anti-incumbency was heavily weighing against National Conference and Congress was also likely to suffer in case of having any truck with them before elections.
Sources remarked that a piquant situation was created in the on-going interaction, when the Congress leader and sitting MP of Congress Party did some tough talk with the Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi in full public view.
Favouring a pre-poll alliance, the Congress MP while addressing his Vice-President said, “I have been an MP for 10 years and ironically, I have met you only three times. You aren’t reachable to your own partymen and most of the leaders are reluctant to interact with you out of fear”.
Stunned at the views expressed by MP in public view, Rahul Gandhi retorted saying, “you sit very close to me in the Parliament and there is no such lack of interaction. We have met so many times and I am always willing to hold parleys with you”.
Earlier, Congress leader from Anantnag, Mr Inayat while appreciating the policies of Congress party said, “landmark policies like NREGA, Food Security Bill and RTI Act had been initiated by the Congress led UPA Government at the Centre”.
“As suggested by our chief, Sonia Gandhi mandate should be only given to people with clean image and only those, who are connected at the grass-root level”, he added.
Congress MLA and President of Mahila Wing, Indu Pawar while addressing the party workers demanded that more representation be given to women in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.
Sources said after the interaction got over, the Congress MP had also heated exchange of arguments with JKPCC (I) chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz.
“There is need for an alliance, either with NC or PDP and if Congress Party doesn’t forge an understanding in the forthcoming Parliamentary polls, I wouldn’t contest elections from my constituency even if offered a mandate”, threatened the MP.
It is pertinent to mention here that senior leader from the State including Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and JKPCC (I) chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz have made separate announcements of going alone in the forthcoming Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
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