NEW DELHI: As the party high command watches silently the drama in the Congress-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi unfold in the Capital, things seem to be getting out of control in the civic body. The Congress is pitted against the Congress with party leaders and councillors joining hands to unleash their personal agendas with hardly a few months left for them to face the voters again.

Political observers here are of the view that the latest incident of the Congress- ruled MCD naming streets and roads after relatives of various Congress MLAs, councillors, traders and even heads of traders' associations and residents' welfare associations highlights the attempts being made to undermine the real agenda of the administration. Even as elected representatives in the civic body continue to make desperate attempts to squeeze out as much as possible in their last few months in office, there is hardly any effort to address the problems and concerns of the common man.

"It is shocking that the Congress councillors, many of them having a dubious record, have gone ahead and named streets, roads and parks after their close relatives, but no attempt has been made to honour those brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the country or those who have contributed immensely to society. This is a serious matter that should be taken note of by the Congress leadership,'' a senior Congress leader remarked.

Similarly quarrels within the Congress over petty issues have badly hurt the image of the Congress administration. Such a situation is unlikely to help the cause of the party when it is bracing up to contest the civic polls due early next year. Already strong resentment prevails against the Congress and the Government run by it over various issues including price rise, demolitions and sealing of illegal commercial properties in the Capital. The spat between the group led by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ram Babu Sharma and Delhi Mayor Farhad Suri threatens to derail the party's agenda.

The open confrontation between the two factions of the Congress in the MCD has done little to enhance the image of the party as well as the MCD that is already under pressure to perform.

Political observers are of the view as the Delhi Government prepares to enter the eighth year of its governance in the next few months, there is a case to reinvent itself in order to give a fresh look to the Government and the administration so that things get going and the next two years of the Government are utilised in consolidating its position in the Capital.

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