The Hindu : Group rivalry dogs Vijayawada Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Group rivalry dogs Vijayawada Congress

By M. Rajeev

VIJAYAWADA, JAN. 25. The `prajahita yatra' undertaken by the Congress to forge unity among its cadre notwithstanding, a truce between the rival groups in the Vijayawada unit appears to be a distant dream.

While criticism and counter-criticism among rival groups is a common feature here, the incidents of members coming to blows in front of senior leaders and All India Congress Committee (AICC) members are not infrequent.

The clash in front of the AICC observer, N. Narayana Swamy, recently is one such incident that reflects the intensity of differences. Though efforts have been made to reach a compromise between the clashing groups - one headed by supporters and the other by detractors of senior party leader, P. Upendra - they remained fruitless so far.

"We are not informed about the party programmes nor are we consulted before taking up any programme. How can we support the leadership, which is behaving unilaterally without consulting senior leaders and PCC office-bearers?'' a senior leader and supporter of Mr. Upendra questions.

According to him, the only solution to the ongoing rivalry in the party unit is to constitute an ad hoc committee to oversee the election activities, wherein every member will have a say in the party affairs. "The ad hoc committee will supervise the activities and all leaders should work under its directions, irrespective of who gets the party ticket in the coming elections,'' he contends. The rival group, however, is against any such proposal as it would only amount to reducing the present leadership appointed by none other than the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, into a dummy.

"We are ready to work in coordination with all the party leaders. But, we are against leaders in the party who are still in active touch with some Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders by providing them funds and other required support, albeit indirectly,'' rival group members claim, maintaining that the party should take steps to see that Mr. Upendra does not have any say in the party affairs of the district.

The rivalry, according to observers, is likely to have an adverse impact on the party prospects in the district if the leadership does not take the initiative to end the clashes. It is in this background that the party summoned the rival groups to Hyderabad on Saturday to thrash out a solution. The meeting, however, did not take place as the AICC general secretary and AP affairs in-charge, Ghulam Nabi Azad's visit was postponed. "We are optimistic that a solution will be worked out after the meeting with Mr Azad,'' says a member of the pro-Upendra group.

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