CLP meeting put off

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 23.

The proposed meeting of the Congress Legislature Party convened by the AICC(I) general secretary in charge of Delhi, Mr. Kamal Nath, to discuss the strategy for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections due early next year, has been called off due to the illness of the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit.

A decision was taken by the general secretary in view of the heart by-pass surgery that Ms.Dikshit underwent making it impossible for her to attend the meeting scheduled for July 28 at Old Secretariat. A communication has been sent to all MLAs. Mr. Nath had convened the meeting to ascertain the view of legislators on the elections and the proposed break up of the civic body.

Mr. Nath had asked the MLAs to submit written suggestions on how they should prepare for the MCD polls and what was their individual stand on the break up of the MCD, including the Virendra Prakash Committee report. The meeting was described as an exercise not only to form a single opinion on the issue of MCD break up but signal the preparations for the elections. After this, Mr. Kamal Nath was to have a meeting with Councillors and leaders on how best the party could take on the BJP.

Sources said the meeting would now be held sometime in mid August as the Chief Minister will take another 15 days to recover. Also, Mr. Nath would get busy with Parliament session and would be hard pressed for time. The meeting is likely to take place before the Monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly, which is likely to be held around August 13.

Interestingly, many in the party feel that while the party was right in gearing itself up for the polls well in advance, the absence of a proper set-up would create complications. The Congress(I) high command is still to constitute the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee(I) eight months after organisational polls were held and Mr. Subhash Chopra was elected DPCC(I) chief. The failure of the leadership to finalise the list of DPCC(I) has set off rumours that all is not well within the party.

Insiders said various groups were mounting pressure for inclusion of their representatives. The bone of contention is the Pradesh Election Committee. Though the party has been sending signals that it would constitute a very composite team, but it would be difficult for leaders and high command to do a balancing act. Central leaders, it is understood, are already lobbying along with the local leaders to get their people included in the list of office bearers. Indications are that an announcement has been held up due to the conflict among Delhi leaders over the inclusion of certain candidates including MLAs.

Veterans and elected representatives are of the opinion that the party would stand to lose badly if it does not set its house in order and announce the list of DPCC(I) office-bearers. Any further delay would not augur well for the party which is aiming at wresting power from the BJP in the Corporation.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : ''Inside Delhi''
Next     : Cabinet extends date for ST subsidy