The ruling Congress party’s hope to ride on several pro-people schemes and proposed refinery in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajathan suffered a setback following factionalism and dissident activities.
The Congress move to give a hearing to workers under feedback programme made public the intense factional feud in the party.
The party leaders have expressed serious concern over the political activities that took place in last one week. “Infighting and groupism came out in open when the party was doing well and ‘Sandesh Yatra’ created a favourable atmosphere for the Congress,” says a senior party leader.
The Congress government’s much-hyped refinery project has also hit a roadblock when Congress legislator Sonaram Choudhary revolted against the proposed site and said he will not accept Pachpadra as a location for the refinery. The infighting over the refinery gave the Opposition BJP a reason to smile and BJP leaders were quick to join the agitation launched by a group of ruling party leaders in Barmer.
The controversy over the site for refinery left revenue minister Hemaram Choudhary with no option but to resign from the post. He represents Gudhamalani Assembly constituency under the Barmer district.
Mr Hemaram’s supporters blamed Mr Sonaram, the Congress MLA from Baytu, for his resignation. However, Mr Sonaram termed the resignation as a political gimmick.
“Indeed Mr Sonaram is acting on the behest of the BJP leaders. He created hue and cry on behest of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje,” Madan Prajapat, Congress MLA from Balotra constituency under Barmer district, said. On the other hand, Mr Sonaram blamed the chief minister for the problem.