An old disease has afflicted the Grand Old Party down to the divisions, at which level it is organising conventions.
Ahead of the September 30 Palamau convention, Congress’ Daltonganj MlA KN Tripathi is disenchanted with the whole exercise. “There is some programme on September 30. But I have no role in it. I am just an MlA. I will be present and say ‘yes sir’. For details, you should ask the PCC president,” he said.
Tripathi denied having any knowledge of Central leaders attending the conclave — a crucial one in terms of improving the party’s tally in the Assembly and for the 2014 general elections. Even Congress in-charge and deputy in-charge for Jharkhand BK Hariprasad and Tarachand Bhagora will be there.
Tripathi, party sources say, is unhappy since the formation and expansions of Hemant Soren’s Cabinet, where he has been ignored. The Congress chose to induct veteran MlA from Bishrampur Chandrashekhar Dubey in his place at the last moment.
And Tripathi is not the only one sulking. At the Kolhan convention, West Jamshedpur legislator Banna Gupta remained a passive spectator at Chaibasa last month. Another frontrunner for a ministerial berth, Gupta ended up losing to Yogender Saw of Barkagaon. Saw even rubbed salt into a few wounds, by making a huge splash with his posters at the Hazaribagh summit. A top party functionary pointed out, “Many MlAs were looking at this as one last chance to become a Minister. Disappointed, they do not want to leave an opportunity to let their resentments be known to the leadership.”
On the other hand, Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat played down such voices. “If there is any complaint, then it is good for internal democracy of the party. There is nothing wrong. However, no such thing has come to me officially,” he said. Palamau conclave convener Radha Krishna Kishore was also unfazed. “We are going to organise a meeting on Friday too. I have conveyed this to Tripathi and two other MlAs. The meeting will inform the people and party workers about the Centre’s flagship programmes and raise the issue of drought. The party is expecting great results,” said Kishore.
Strangely though, Tripathi asked, “Is this the platform to raise such issuesIJ” “let the Assembly session begin and I will speak there,” he added, hinting that he may just corner the Government run by his own party!