The Hindu : Bhajan Lal sends a subtle message to dissidents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 29, 2004

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Other States - Haryana

Bhajan Lal sends a subtle message to dissidents

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH, JAN.28. Congress leaders in Haryana who had made it a penchant to publicly criticise the former Chief Minister and president of the State unit of the party, Bhajan Lal, at various fora including rallies and meetings and left broad hints that no "corrupt'' person would be allowed to call the shots in the party have had a setback of sorts with the recent change of guard in

the All-India Congress Committee.

According to insiders, a few party leaders had been organising "parallel" rallies and meetings all over the State with "tacit" blessings of a section of the AICC leadership including the then party general secretary in charge of Haryana affairs. Instead of solely launching a direct attack on the performance of the Indian National Lok Dal regime in the State, these leaders and their supporters openly criticised Mr. Bhajan Lal on one issue or the other thereby sending a message to the grassroots that the party was "divided.''

However, sources close to Mr. Bhajan Lal disclosed on the point of anonymity that the former Chief Minister had brought this "state of affairs'' to the notice of the party High Command and even "offered to resign as party president'' in case "dissidence'' was not nipped in the

bud. It was pointed out that the Congress would not be able to revive its pristine glory in the State by winning a considerable number of Lok Sabha as well as Assembly seats in the ensuing elections if "infighting'' persisted.

Sources disclosed that Mr. Bhajan Lal had received a virtual shot in the arm with the appointment of R.K. Dhawan as the general secretary in-charge of Haryana. It was being felt in Congress circles that a subtle message had been conveyed by the party high command that the demand for the "ouster'' of Mr. Bhajan Lal at this juncture when elections were just round the corner had not been received favourably. Moreover, the sources pointed out that it was part of Mr. Dhawan's mission to tell the dissident leaders firmly not to play into the hands of the ruling INLD-BJP combine by openly attacking Mr. Bhajan Lal. Such actions would only weaken the party further in the State

and give an opportunity to the Haryana Vikas Party of the former Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, to emerge as the foremost contender for power in Haryana.

And with the constitution of the State Election Committee, it has become amply clear that Mr. Bhajan Lal still continues to call the shots in the party as the 13-member Committee is apparently dominated by his men.

Interestingly, a resolution was passed at the first meeting of the Committee, chaired by Mr. Bhajan Lal, here today to leave the choice of candidates for the 10 Lok Sabha from Haryana to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. The meeting was also attended among others by the Leader of Opposition, Bhupinder

Singh Hooda, and Inderjit Singh, both sitting MLAs.

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Bhajan Lal sends a subtle message to dissidents