Morale of Congress party members hits an all-time low as many of them indulge in blame game and skip crucial party meetings.
Ever since the Congress party suffered its worst defeat party members have started blaming senior party leaders for its inability to connect with the voters. According to sources, suburban guardian minister Naseem Khan had campaigned against Mumbai North Central MP Priya Dutt which was one of the factors responsible for her defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election.
According to a source from Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, “Yes huge infighting is happening within the Congress Party. Party members who have been praising Rahul Gandhi have suddenly started criticising him for the party’s debacle in the election. There has been a huge disconnect between the party leadership and party members. The anti-incumbency factor too was responsible for the defeat of Congress party.”
The morale of the party leaders has taken a severe beating as many of them skipped the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) meeting. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was in Delhi while state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre had failed to attend the meeting.
Former MPs Milind Deora (Mumbai South), Eknath Gaikwad (Mumbai South Central), Priya Dutt (Mumbai North Central) and Sanjay Nirupam (Mumbai North) who has lost the general election has skipped the meeting. The sole defeated MP present was Mumbai North West candidate Gurudas Kamat.
The absentee legislators included Annie Shekhar (Colaba) Naseem Khan (Chandivali), (also the guardian minister of Mumbai suburbs), Kripashankar Singh (Kalina) Baba Siddique (Bandra (W), Baldev Khosa (Versova) and Aslam Shaikh (Malad).
On the other hand Khan’s brother Sharif, defended him and said that Dutt had bagged more votes from Khan’s Assembly segment this time than in 2009. “Dutt has bagged her highest tally of votes from Khan’s Assembly pocket. How can he be accused of sabotaging her campaign?”
Former Union minister Gurudas Kamat, who failed to retain the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat, blamed the state’s failure to implement election promises like slum cut-off extension effectively and resolve the affordable housing problem as a reason behind the poll debacle.
On the other hand, the Narayan Rane supporters had skipped the meeting convened by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee meeting. According to sources some Congress party members were demanding a rethink about having an alliance with the NCP. They also alleged that many party members were confined to their own constituencies and failed to garner support for the party.
