Bringing respite to Madhya Pradesh state unit chief Suresh Pachouri and former Chhattisgah chief minister Ajit Jogi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday blamed “lack of unity and co-ordination” within the various party leaders in these states for the recent poll debacles it suffered in these states.
The statement is the first tacit acceptance of the all powerful factions in these states and is also by far the strongest indictment of party ‘biggies’ from these states, who cost the party dearly by indulging in faction feuds.
Speaking to party parliamentarians Sonia said: “In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh —the two states which have been our traditional strongholds — we have lost. We have increased the number of seats and our vote share. But that is small consolation. There are a number of reasons behind this setback. But to my mind the lack of unity and co-ordination among our colleagues in these two states has been the main factor.”
Several Congress biggies from MP including, Union ministers Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, former chief minister Digvijay Singh, and Pachouri enjoy clout in the various forums of the party.
The party in the state is divided into all-powerful factions and that expectedly came off at the seams during the election making it impossible for the party to function as ‘one’ unit during the campaign for the 230 member assembly.
With an outdated quota system, employed by the party for the distribution of party tickets, hurting bloated egos and triggering faction feuds a rout in the election was only to be expected.
Despite her dislike for the Congress high command headed by Gandhi assented on lists of nominees provided by the ‘biggies,’ who forwarded names after grading candidates on faction loyalty and regional considerations.
The non projection of a chief ministerial candidate also contributed to the party’s woes as the BJP contested the elections in both the states with their chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh leading the campaign from front.
Voters in Madhya Pradesh say they are vary of the Congress ploy of not declaring a CM candidate, as it normally culminates in the party pushing an undesired chief minister down the peoples’ throat.
In Chhattisgarh, the state where the party started out with excellent chances for a win, the situation was no better as factions headed by Jogi, VC Shukla and Mahendra Karma among others worked to undermine the opposition within the party rather than the one on the outside.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gandhi hailed electoral victories in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram as ones that “enthused and re-energised” party workers across the country.
With the debacles of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh behind her Gandhi exhorted party parliamentarians to “work very hard, both individually and collectively in cohesion” to ensure a victory for the party in the Lok Sabha elections 2009.
The statement is the first tacit acceptance of the all powerful factions in these states and is also by far the strongest indictment of party ‘biggies’ from these states, who cost the party dearly by indulging in faction feuds.
Speaking to party parliamentarians Sonia said: “In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh —the two states which have been our traditional strongholds — we have lost. We have increased the number of seats and our vote share. But that is small consolation. There are a number of reasons behind this setback. But to my mind the lack of unity and co-ordination among our colleagues in these two states has been the main factor.”
Several Congress biggies from MP including, Union ministers Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, former chief minister Digvijay Singh, and Pachouri enjoy clout in the various forums of the party.
The party in the state is divided into all-powerful factions and that expectedly came off at the seams during the election making it impossible for the party to function as ‘one’ unit during the campaign for the 230 member assembly.
With an outdated quota system, employed by the party for the distribution of party tickets, hurting bloated egos and triggering faction feuds a rout in the election was only to be expected.
Despite her dislike for the Congress high command headed by Gandhi assented on lists of nominees provided by the ‘biggies,’ who forwarded names after grading candidates on faction loyalty and regional considerations.
The non projection of a chief ministerial candidate also contributed to the party’s woes as the BJP contested the elections in both the states with their chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh leading the campaign from front.
Voters in Madhya Pradesh say they are vary of the Congress ploy of not declaring a CM candidate, as it normally culminates in the party pushing an undesired chief minister down the peoples’ throat.
In Chhattisgarh, the state where the party started out with excellent chances for a win, the situation was no better as factions headed by Jogi, VC Shukla and Mahendra Karma among others worked to undermine the opposition within the party rather than the one on the outside.
Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gandhi hailed electoral victories in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram as ones that “enthused and re-energised” party workers across the country.
With the debacles of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh behind her Gandhi exhorted party parliamentarians to “work very hard, both individually and collectively in cohesion” to ensure a victory for the party in the Lok Sabha elections 2009.
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