The Hindu : Front Page : Sheila Dikshit gets a reprieve

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Sheila Dikshit gets a reprieve

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A week after she walked out in a huff from a party meet, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, got a reprieve from the central leadership that also put her and the Delhi Pradesh Congress chief, Ram Babu Sharma, on notice.

At a two-hour crucial meeting, the two leaders were told categorically that the high command was putting them "on watch'' and that "anything could happen in future," top party sources told The Hindu on Monday night.

On his part, Mr. Gehlot told correspondents after the late night meeting that "everything was all right [in the Delhi Congress]." Sources also indicated that as of now there would be no changes either in the Council of Ministers or in the Pradesh Congress set-up, as demanded by the feuding camps.

Mr. Sharma also got embroiled in controversy for making statements on the conduct of the Chief Minister and joining issue with her saying that Ms. Dikshit's behaviour was inappropriate.

The party central leadership decided to resolve the crisis after the AICC general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, in charge of party affairs in Delhi, submitted a report on the developments of Tuesday's Delhi Congress meeting. Senior party leader Janardhan Dwivedi and the Union Minister, P.M. Sayeed, who too were present at the Tuesday meeting, gave their views on the issue.

Top Congress leaders assembled here on Monday evening at the residence of the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, where both the Chief Minister and the DPCC Chief were summoned. The two leaders had met the AICC general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, separately earlier in the evening. Party sources said the high command had taken a dim view of the Chief Minister's remarks in an interview a day after she left the party meet where she came under attack.

Incidentally, Ms. Dikshit's presence at a function to felicitate the Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh has also been noticed, especially her appreciation of the bold stand of Mr. Singh on the controversial Satluj-Yamunal Link canal project.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Charges framed against Lalu

Lalu need not resign, says Bhardwaj

Sanjay Nirupam admitted to Congress

Protests over minor's rape continue in Mumbai

`Anil Ambani had agreed to reconsider resignation from IPCL'

Sheila Dikshit gets a reprieve

Paes and Zimonjic win at Barcelona

Windies crumbles as Nel breathes fire

U.S. cruises into semifinals

Two Lashkar militants gunned down

Tandon appointed CEC

Held, freed