With fissures in the State Congress widening everyday following clash between supporters of State Congress president Ajoy Kumar and Subodh Kant Sahay outside Congress office on Thursday, the Congress High Command has summoned State leadership for talks.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, KC Venugopal has summoned leaders from both the warring factions to reach Delhi for talks. Venugopal, who is considered close to outgoing Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked State Congress president Ajoy Kumar and other faction lead by Subodh Kant Sahay and Pradeep Balmuchu to reach Delhi on Saturday for talks. Sources in State Congress said that leaders from both the factions have rushed to Delhi after receiving the AICC direction.
On Thursday Congress fractions resorted to an ugly clash in front of the party office, forcing police to use mild force and detain a few leaders, indicating a growing belligerence among party men. State party chief Ajoy Kumar, who arrived at the State party headquarters after the police managed to control the situation, addressed a gathering of loyalists and blamed a set of senior leaders for trying to “break the party”. He blamed some senior leaders for demanding Assembly seats for their family members and relatives.
Meanwhile, the State Congress president Ajoy Kumar has also decided to send a report against Sahay and Balmuchu for anti-party activities. Ajoy’s report is against Sahay and Balmuchu for encouraging factionalism to further their own agendas at the cost of the cost.
Meanwhile, the State Congress has expressed regret over Thursday’s incident with party inside fight reaching streets. State Congress spokesperson, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo said, “The way two groups of Congress fought on the street is very unfortunate. Such type of incidents hurts the morale of the Congress workers.”
Echoing the views of Shahdeo another senior Congress leader requesting anonymity said, “Such incidents are not good for the health of Congress in State. The party already is passing through bad phase after its humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha, such infighting on streets will hurt the morale of Congress workers which will have its affects in coming Assembly election.”
The leader further said, “All parties including BJP, JMM and JVM have started preparations for year-end Assembly election while on other hand Congress party is busy with its own internal differences. With such differences how we will go to voters in Assembly election.”
The differences within Congress party has widened after Sahay’s two loyalists Surendra Kumar Singh (former Ranchi unit president) and Rakesh Sinha (former State Congress spokesperson) were dismissed from party on disciplinary ground.