Factionalism to the fore in M.P. Congress ?

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, APRIL 25. The absence of some top State Congress leaders at the just-concluded Jabalpur session of the Madhya Pradesh unit is being described in political circles here as reflective of the growing factionalism in the party.

Two prominent leaders, Mr. Kamal Nath and Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, were conspicuous by their absence at the Jabalpur session addressed by the AICC president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

Also significant was the absence of State Ministers such as Mr. Sajjan Singh Verma, Mr. Hukum Singh Karada and Mr. Deepak Sexena. All these Ministers are die-hard loyalists of Mr. Kamal Nath.

The State Congress spokesman, Mr. Lalit Shrivastava, told The Hindu that Mr. Kamal Nath and Mr. Scindia could not attend the session due to the whip issued in connection with the Parliament session. However, there are not many takers for this in the party rank and file. Many Congressmen said that their absence on the first day was understandable because of the whip. However, there was no reason why they should have kept away on the second day when Ms. Gandhi addressed the session, they point out.

Many Congressmen said that Mr. Scindia must have kept away due to his growing differences with a section of State leaders over the recent nomination of MPCC office-bearers.

It is being said in Congress circles that Mr. Kamal Nath and his men were particularly irked with the party managers' decision to appoint the Panchayat Minister, Mr. Ajay Singh, in- charge of the session.

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