Cong Co-ordination committee creates rift in city unit

VADODARA: Rifts have been caused within the city congress party owing to a city-level co-ordination committee formed by state Congress chief Siddharth Patel some months ago. Instead of bringing all Congress workers under one fold at a time when the party is gearing up for the upcoming civic elections, the committee has become a major reason for disgruntlement among them.
Majority of the Congress leaders in the city have alleged that most members of the co-ordination committee are not taking active part in party's programmes.
Senior city unit Congress leaders are also upset with the party's councillors, especially leader of opposition in Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) Chirag Zaveri for not displaying enough firepower against BJP. "The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has created a divide in the city unit instead of bringing all workers together. The 23-member co-ordination committee was formed by Patel without consulting anyone in city unit and now it is leading to differences," said a Congress leader.
"The committee members are not interested in participating in party's programmes and demonstrations. Most members stayed away when we held protests against delimitation exercise and Sohrabuddin posters. What is the use of these members, if they don't turn up for such programmes and pre-election events?" questioned the leader.
The co-ordination committee that was formed by GPCC had left out many city Congress workers, who actively participate in party's activities. "It is not a good move to enforce all decisions on city unit leaders without proper consultations. GPCC shouldn't make decisions on its own and pick leaders on their own. Even the ward in-charges were appointed without consulting city unit leaders. Such moves will affect the election campaign as workers will feel alienated," said another Congress leader.
Sources in city Congress also pointed out that this infighting has sidelined the civic election preparations that should have been the top priority. "Our VMC opposition leader chooses not to protest against BJP councillors even if they attack our senior leaders. Zaveri and other Congress councillors didn't protest in the general board of VMC meeting where AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were insulted," said a source.
Sources added that Congress city unit president Suresh Patel is very upset with their councillors' behaviour and is going to make a complaint to AICC against them and some other party leaders soon.
tushar.tere@timesgroup.com