After defeat, fighting started in the state Congress. During discussion on sabotage with some candidates in the election, news was spread among the party forum that national vice-president of the party Rahul Gandhi was not willing to give tickets to the former leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey and one or two other MlAs.
National treasurer of the Congress, Motilal Vora denied the news related to Rahul Gandhi was not willing to give tickets to Ravindra Choubey and termed it as fictitious. Some party leaders consider that leaders opposing Choubey, to save themselves from the charge of sabotage, were trying to project him as weak candidate. Choubey has been MlA from Saja Assembly constituency continuously for six terms. He has been defeated for the first time.
In fact, Choubey had won the last election with a margin of 5,500 votes, however, the Congress got highest 20,000 votes lead from Saja constituency in the lok Sabha election, whereas, in many other MlAs’ constituencies, the party candidates trailed drastically.
It was said that a big leader is being made responsible for the defeat of Choubey. That leader had provided all resources to an independent candidate. Moreover, one of the relatives of the leader has been active in Saja constituency since last few years. He was continuously in contact with Choubey’s adversaries. The leader had extended full support to the BJP candidate also.
Not only Choubey, but in Patan and other constituencies also, opponents have worked against the Congress candidates. Complaints have been made with the State Congress president Dr Charandas Mahant also. In the review meeting, these leaders had openly said about the sabotage. Congress national president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also been informed about it through email. It was said that the state in-charge and the state president have made Rahul Gandhi aware of the facts of assembly election results. There is possibility of widening the rift over sabotage in the time to come.