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Congress in a tizzy over “revolt” by Karnal MP

CHANDIGARH: The Congress leadership in Haryana which was virtually caught unawares about the “revolt” by Karnal MP Arvind Sharma just on the eve of the crucial trust vote in Parliament has gone into the damage control mode amid reports that at least one or two other MPs from the State could also “change their loyalties.”

This “revolt” came out of the blue as everyone in the party was aware that the break with Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldip Bishnoi, the younger son of former Chief Minister and strongman Bhajan Lal, was complete and that the suspended Congress MP from Bhiwani had made it very clear that he would vote against the UPA Government.

Interestingly, Mr.Bishnoi, who had floated the Janhit Congress on December 2 last year, had claimed time and again that he had “submitted his resignation to the Speaker’s office” but had not heard thereafter about its fate.

The disqualification proceedings against him were deferred last week after senior Congress leaders tried their level best to win back Mr.Bhajan Lal and Mr.Bishnoi’s loyalty to the party. Interestingly, Mr.Bhajan Lal’s eldest son Chander Mohan is Deputy Chief Minister in the Haryana Government.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who was participating in scheduled functions in Kaithal district on Friday rushed to Delhi after reports that Mr.Sharma, who till recently, was to been seen at functions of Mr.Hooda in Karnal constituency, had not only praised the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati at a press conference in New Delhi but also criticized the Congress leadership.

There were unconfirmed reports that another Congress MP Atma Singh Gill from Sirsa had also been contacted by the Opposition. However, the tension of party managers eased when Mr.Gill was among the MPs who called on Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday and reposed his faith in the Congress.

Mr. Hooda and his close associates are understood to have established contact with Mr.Sharma and are trying to convince him to cast his vote in favour of the UPA and his “grievances”, most of them relating to State politics, would be resolved satisfactorily.

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