'Huge support for Sonia in Rajasthan'

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV. 10. The Congress Working Committee member, Mr. R.K. Dhawan, today asserted that there was an `overwhelming support' in Rajasthan for Ms. Sonia Gandhi who is contesting for the post of the party president. The `massive' support for Ms. Gandhi would ensure her victory in the polls, he said.

``There is absolutely no contest between Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Jitendra Prasada,'' Mr. Dhawan, who was on a day's visit to Jaipur, told The Hindu. Mr. Prasada could hardly `match the kind of acceptance' forthcoming for Ms. Gandhi.

Mr. Dhawan denied he had come here as an observer for the polls. ``I have come on my own to see how the things are taking shape for the elections,'' he said, while affirming that the PCC members had themselves expressed their approval for Ms. Gandhi without being asked.

Referring to the election of the PCC president, he said the State partymen favoured a unanimous nomination for the post. ``Most of the members want the choice to be left to Ms. Gandhi,'' he said and added that this was yet another gesture of respect to the Congress president.

Mr. Dhawan, who was earlier AICC general secretary, denied that there was any demand to defer the PCC president's elections and said the issue would be handled by the Pradesh Returning Officers.

Support in Mizoram

PTI reports from Aizawl:

The Mizoram PCC has decided to vote for Ms. Gandhi in the party president election scheduled to be held in the State tomorrow, the party spokesman, Mr. R. Thangliana, said today.

`Signatures forged'

PTI reports from Ranchi:

All five AICC delegates from the Chaibasa areas of Jharkhand, projected as proposers of Mr. Jitendra Prasada for the post of Congress president, today said their signatures had been forged.

In a letter to Ms. Sonia Gandhi, they said a conspiracy had been hatched by some vested interests to defame them. A copy of the letter was released to the press here. Mr. Deenbandhu Ghosh (Chakardharpur), Mr. Rambriksha Gupta (Chandil), Mr. Antu Hemr.om (Jaganathpur), Mr. Krishna Sundi (Chaibasa) and Mr. Manoj Prasad (Majhgaon) have demanded a high-level inquiry into this ``fraudulent'' act and disciplinary action against those found guilty.

- UNI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Congress loyalists plan new `morcha'
Next     : CPI(M) leader shot dead