Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 30, 2006
Introduction: Partymen not in favour of alliance
for local body polls'
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra: If this
is not vote bank politics, what is it?]
The political gulf between the Congress
and its ally in the Democratic Front government, the Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP), widened further on Saturday with Maharahstra Pradesh Congress
Committee (MPCC) president Prabha Rau intensifying her attacks on Sharad Pawar's
party.
Addressing Congress workers at a party meeting
on Saturday, she said that the rank and file of the Congress was not in favour
of a tie-up with the NCP for the forthcoming local body polls because of the
latter's devious mode of functioning, accusing it of driving away Muslims
from the Congress.
She said: "Atrocities and police excesses
on Dalits and minorities are continuing unabated, and the NCP, despite
having the Home portfolio, hasn't been able to stop it. It seems to be an
effort to drive Muslims away from the Congress, perhaps, to the Samajwadi
Party. I have received numerous complaints from Muslims that they are
being harassed by police probing various cases, including the bomb blasts."
She claimed that the she had informed Deputy
Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil about the issue in the presence
of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh but "things have not improved".
Accusing the NCP of using money power to "get
things done,", she said: "We can't do the same. We have to strengthen
the party if we have to contest the elections on our own.
She, however, said the final decision will
be taken by the party high command since "we are not a regional party".
On groupism within the party, hinting at the
Deshmukh group's displeasure over importance given to Narayan Rane of
late, she said: "These people don't do anything and when someone comes
from outside, they lobby against him. These are the people who feel insecure
because of newcomers like Rane."
Taking a dig at the Deshmukh group, she said:
"If you are so powerful, why don't we have a majority in the Assembly?
The NCP is racing ahead and you are pulling legs of our own partymen."
Commenting on the forthcoming by-election
for the Rajya Sabha seat from Maharashtra Assembly, following the death
of NCP's Vasant Chavan, Rau said that nothing had been decided on an alliance
with the NCR Stating that a decision would be taken after the by poll were
announced, she said that changed equations in the Assembly -Congress has become
the single largest party leaving behind NCP-would also be discussed.
Speaking at the meeting, held at Tilak Bhavan,
All India Congress Committee (AICC) office-bearer and State incharge Margaret
Alva expressed her inability in ensuring that political appointments
on government-run corporations were made.
She said that about 5,000 applications had
been received and the seats had been vacant since the Deshmukh government
assumed power in 2004. She said that she did not have any powers to do anything
and that only Deshmukh could make the appointments.
Revenue Minister Narayan Rane said that the
forthcoming elections were not easy He said that though the strength of the
Congress had increased in the Assembly efforts should be made to increase
the number to over 200 in the 288-member Assembly.
The farmers' suicides issue also came up for
discussion. Rau lamented the suicides of farmers had continued even after
the announcement of relief packages by the State and the Centre. She
said that the situation would be reviewed by the party in the six most affected
districts of Vidarbha again.
