NEW DELHI: Sharp divisions within the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) came out into the open both inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha here on Monday as loyalists and dissidents clashed over the sealing issue.

The CLP also witnessed heated exchange of words between Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma.

`Blaming the Centre'

The CLP saw the loyalists and dissidents virtually coming to blows.

The dissidents were annoyed that the Chief Minister and her supporters had been trying to blame the Congress-led Government at the Centre for the present situation and failure to sort out the problems relating to traders.

They said the Chief Minister had on record said that she had nothing to do with sealing and it was the Union Government that should resolve the issue.

Ghonda MLA Bhisham Sharma said the situation was very serious as the traders and common man were blaming the Congress and the Delhi Government for all the `mess' in the Capital.

The Chief Minister, he said, owed an explanation as to why she did not speak on the issue so vigorously earlier and why she kept silent when sealing and demolitions were taking place in the city.

He said common man felt that Ms. Dikshit was behind twin drives and the citizens were fed up of her regime.

At this juncture, party chief whip Ramakant Goswami got up to protest against the accusations. Mr. Sharma gestured towards Mr. Goswami to sit down "or face the consequences". At this, Mr. Ram Babu Sharma intervened and asked Mr. Goswami not to disturb Mr. Bhisham Sharma as they had allowed the loyalists to speak without interruption.

However, Ms. Dikshit intervened and protested against Mr. Ram Babu Sharma's comments that saw an immediate reaction from an agitated DPCC president who snatched away the mike and reprimanded the Chief Minister for trying to muzzle the voice of the dissidents within the party.

When Ms. Dikshit tried to take back the mike from the PCC president, he strongly jerked her hand away and uttered some harsh words.

PM, Sonia lauded

Mr. Ram Babu Sharma said the Chief Minister would not be allowed to have her way and take pot shots at the Union Government.

The Union Urban Development Ministry had taken several steps to address the situation and those could not be overlooked nor could the role of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi be brushed aside in getting relief for the people of Delhi.

Senior MLA Subhash Chopra demanded resignation of Labour Minister Mangat Ram Singhal for his failure to take stock of the situation on the unemployment front.

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