To stem internal sabotage Congress starts damage control exercise

Ahmedabad, Dec 5: Aware that in many constituencies more than the rivals, party's internal squabbling could harm Congress prospects in the high-decibel Gujarat polls, the Congress party has started damage control exercise by meeting disgruntled elements.

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress leadership has started meeting some of the disgruntled leaders and has been impressing upon them to work unitedly for party's official candidates. As part of the exercise, GPCC vice president Moulinbhai Vaishnav met a group of leaders on Sunday, sources said here. Among those who attended the meeting were ticket aspirants from key constituencies and a few minority community leaders. Those who attended the meeting included formerly ticket aspirants from Siddhpur, Nikol, Gandhinagar and Jamalpur-Khadia. There were several leaders from Saurashtra region including from Rajkot and adjoining places.At the meeting, according to sources, Mr Vaishnav urged them to give up their 'anguish' and work for the party candidates. "These elections in Gujarat are crucial and hence all out efforts should be made to win the seats. All differences and grievances be set aside now and the focus should be win the seats," Mr Vaishnav told party colleagues. However, there were some fireworks with leaders like Vazir Khan and Satish Pandya protesting the manner tickets were distributed. Mr Pandya ventilated his anguish over ticket distribution in Nikol assembly segment in Ahmedabad. His protest was against the party decision to field Indra Vijaysinh Gohil. "The decision has hurt many genuine workers and supporters," he reportedly said at the meeting. Mr Vazir Khan protested that in many constituencies party preferred to field those leaders - who have sometime rebelled openly against the party and also contested as Independent in municipal polls.

Rebellion has sparked off war in the Congress camp in many constituencies and in fact immediately after ticket distribution, there were protest against Ashok Gehlot, AICC general secretary in charge of Gujarat. In Vadgam assembly segment wherein Congress decided to support the candidature of Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani,local minority cell chief Yasinbhai Sarif said, "I will support the candidate of Ashwani Parmar, who has been a dedicated Congress leader for many years". The Congress decision to field Himmatsinh Patel, former Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation chairman, from Bapunagar too has been opposed. In fact, a group of Congress leaders had linked Himmatsinh Patel getting the party ticket to his association with Mr Gehlot.
Congress leaders have charged Mr Patel with "indulging in anti-party activities" in the past and also that he has lost in three assembly elections and one Lok Sabha election. UNI