Confusion reigns supreme in city Congress over leadership issue
| Date :07-Jul-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya:
Resignation of Rahul Gandhi as President of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and subsequent resignations of senior leaders from top positions has created confusion among the party workers in State and city too. Many leaders still demand Rahul Gandhi to continue as the party chief while some are batting for their leaders at national and state levels. After resignation of Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Chavan, Dr Nitin Raut, Nana Patole and several others had put in their papers. Though Nana Patole was defeated in Nagpur Lok Sabha elections, Congress argued that he secured around 2 lakh votes, more than what Vilas Muttemwar could garner in 2014 elections.
Of course that argument does not augur well as unsettlement in the workers continued to haunt the party. Names of several leaders like Sushilkumar Shinde, Mukul Wasnik, Ashoksingh Gehlot are making rounds for the post of AICC President. But most of the leaders are not vocal about it. Dr Nitin Raut who quit as President of Scheduled Caste Cell of Congress said, “I have demonstrated and expressed my opposition for anybody other than Rahulji becoming President of AICC.
Though the party volunteers worked hard, Congress still got defeated, so why should Rahulji alone take blame on himself? As far as State President is concerned, I have no problem in working under any leader chosen by Rahulji. But the party can remain united only under the Gandhi family umbrella and if anyone outside the family leads the party, it would increase uneasiness.” To a question whether Dr Raut is preparing himself to contest Assembly elections from North Nagpur, he only smiled. According to one senior functionary in city, there was no reason for Rahul Gandhi to resign.
On condition of anonymity he told ‘The Hitavada’ “After putting papers by Rahulji, the uneasiness in Congress workers got momentum. The decision is absolutely ridiculous. Instead of resigning he should have appealed Congressmen to stand again, do the aggressive campaign to win the Assembly elections. For several years BJP too was winning only two seats but nobody resigned from any post. Now it has reached to 300. We have to show patience.”
Praful Gudadhe who had spearheaded the Patole elections of recent Nagpur Lok Sabha though admitted the unsettlement, he was optimistic about crisis getting resolved. He said, “We are working with full force. In a day or two the announcement of new President at national as well as at State level is expected. Then everything will be streamlined.” Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition in State Assembly seemed quite enthusiastic. “I am on the tour of Vidarbha and everywhere there is enthusiastic atmosphere. We had asked people interested to contest assembly elections to turn up till July 6 and around 6 to 7 persons are showing interest.
This is a good sign. We have taken out rally in Umrer recently and 300 people participated. There is no doubt that in State and in Delhi new President would take over soon. But generally that does not make any difference,” asserted Wadettiwar. Situation is not that smooth as expressed by Gudadhe or Wadettiwar. Congress leaders and volunteers are feeling low. One leader interested to contest assembly elections pointed out, “It is difficult to raise the morale of party workers. Confusion is still there. Policy is not clear. With assembly elections in state are round the corner we are still in the process of appointing our leaders in State and at national level, that will take us nowhere.” There is a confusion over the State Presidentship of Maharashtra Congress.
Some say, Ashok Chavan has resigned and Balasaheb Thorat tipped to become his successor. But one section of Congress raises doubt over State Presidentship issue. It says Chavan can not be replaced as his resignation is not accepted. With Rahul Gandhi has resigned, AICC has become virtually headless, so nobody is there to take decision on Chavan’s resignation. Some leaders in State body also of the view, Chavan has garnered enough experience and it will not be wise to replace him when Assembly elections are round the corner.
Youth leaders like Amir Sheikh (Noori), National Delegate of National Students Union of India feeling handicapped. “We are fighting our own issue without any support from senior leaders. In my view if elections are properly planned, Congress can win at least two seats in Nagpur viz Central Nagpur and North Nagpur because we got one lakh more votes in Lok Sabha elections. But it should start from now.”