RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan.25: Weakness of the Congress party’s central leadership got exposed today as All India Congress Committee Jharkhand in-charge R.P.N.Singh joined the BJP after tendering his resignation before the upcoming UP election.
Former spokesperson, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Prabhakar shared his feeling when contacted for his comment on the shift of loyalty of a senior Congress party leader in the crucial situation.
“Party workers are confused. If the central leadership had been strong and foresighted it would have never chosen Singh as party in-charge in Jharkhand. This incident has exposed the weakness of the central leadership and something needs to be done there to strengthen the Congress,” a senior party leader away from the charm of party position and post said.
Another veteran leader supported him saying that if the situation prevails for more time, days are not far when the UPA government in the state will fall.
“When a responsible leader can change his loyalty, how far elected MLAs can be relied. Any day 11 of the 16 Congress MLA can shift their loyalty and reduce the Hemant Soren government into a minority. Now I can guess why BJP says that any time the Jharkhand government under the leadership of Soren can fall,” the Congress party leader said.
Another Congress party leader said if the organising secretary of the AICC K.C. Venugopal would have paid attention to the complaints of old Congress party leaders such a situation would never have come.
“Party workers were regularly complaining to Venugopal regarding the way Singh was giving posts to Congressmen with little party experience but the former never took it seriously and the situation came,” the party leader said.
State spokesperson Alok Dubey admitted the situation to some extent saying now the party should review all the decisions taken by Singh.
“Real workers never liked Singh in the party. His image with foul words and cigarette in mouth is difficult to forget for committed party workers. Party workers are happy with his resignation and are celebrating. Now senior leaders should review the decisions taken by Singh, who instead of strengthening the Congress in Jharkhand demoralised party workers,” Dubey said.
Executive president of JPCC Bandhu Tirkey did not take a call. Senior Congress party leader Alamgir Alam also followed suit.
Congress president Rajesh Thakur, criticized the decision of Singh saying he should not have done this.
“Party has given him proper respect. He should not have done this. This is a wrong and impractical decision,” Thakur said.
Asked about the fate of the party in Jharkhand with his resignation, Thakur said: “Party does not depend on the leader. Party exists due to its lakhs of workers not due to its leaders.”
Singh had good relations with the JMM and he was often noticed sharing dais with chief minister Hemant Soren during important functions. Recently he was noticed sharing dais with Soren on the completion of two years of UPA government in the state.
Thus when contacted JMM spokesperson and general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya he asked for a time of one day to tell anything in the matter.
“Kal baat karenge is bare mein,” Bhattacharya said when contacted for his comment on the political development before the UP election.
