Much to the embarrassment of Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra on Thursday claimed that the Congress delegation which met him with suggestions on Tuesday was “authorised” by the party.
“The Congress delegation is fully authorised by the party and I can show you the memorandum handed over to the Commission on Tuesday,” Chandra clarified while replying to a media query about Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu on Wednesday calling the delegation as “unauthorised” and seeking time for the party’s “authorised” representatives to put forth the party suggestions for “free and fair elections”.
Lallu's move clearly indicated the growing infighting within the senior leaders.
“We want to bring to your knowledge that the delegation that met you on Tuesday of the Indian National Congress was not authorised. Tomorrow, on 30-12-2021, authorised delegation of Congress having me (Ajay Kumar Lallu), Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra, former MP Pramod Tiwari and Naseemuddin Siddiqui, following all Covid-related guidelines, want to give their suggestions regarding holding of free, fair and timely elections. Kindly give time to this delegation to meet you,' Lallu wrote to Chandra.
On Tuesday, a member of the party's media and communication department, Onkarnath Singh had released a statement that a delegation led by him, another member and senior party leader Virendra Madan and party vice president Mohd Anas Khan met the chief election commissioner. On Wednesday, Onkarnath Singh said he has resigned from all party posts.
In a letter to AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Onkarnath Singh also claimed that he was verbally given approval to attend the election commission meeting by a senior party leader and was asked to take along senior party leaders Virendra Madan and Anas Khan.
He added that he has held posts such as general secretary and spokesperson but the party's move had “dented” his image.
“’…that is why I am resigning from all posts of the party,” he wrote.
Though Lallu was not available for his comments but sources said that he called the delegation “unauthoirised” as it demanded removal of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi to ensure free and fair polls.
It may be mentioned that several senior leaders including one close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are facing criminal cases and they fear that any demand against Awasthi might land them in trouble in the days ahead.
Meanwhile, after being denied meeting by the election commission, Congress sent its suggestions by writing a letter to the Commission demanding a ban on rallies being held at government expense and a ban on unparliamentary language used by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.
In a joint press conference, senior leader Pramod Tewari, his daughter and CLP leader Aradhana Mishra Mona, former Rajya Sabha member PL Punia said that at present there was a possibility of third wave of COVID-19 epidemic so only small meetings, chaupals, virtual meetings and door to door campaigns should be organised and big rallies should be banned.
Aradhana Mishra claimed that the election commission should take special note of BJP leaders, particularly prime minister, chief minister, deputy chief minister, who were holding rallies at government expense and abusing power by using undemocratic language from constitutional forums. “This should be stopped immediately,” she said.
They also raised the issue of rising crimes especially against Dalits and women.
Pramod Tiwari said that the Yogi Adityanath government kept on threatening the victims, protecting the criminals and covering the incidents for the whole five years. He said the incident in Amethi was also the result of the same.
