A general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party has not been called yet when the current Winter Session of Parliament is in the last phase and could adjourn sine die either during this week or on next Monday.
A CPP general body meets at least twice during a Parliament session. But this time it has not been called so far against the backdrop of controversies being faced by the party and the Centre one after another.
If the deadlock in the two Houses of the Parliament on constituting a joint parliamentary party to probe into 2G spectrum allocation issue since November 10 has consolidated the Opposition, the Congress’ worst ever performance in the Bihar Assembly elections have demoralised the rank and file.
In between, the party has removed two chief ministers for different reasons. While Mr Ashok Chavan had to quit Maharashtra chief ministership in the wake of Adarsh housing scam, Mr K. Rosaiah resigned on the ground of his “age and performance”.
The party has also removed Mr Suresh Kalmadi from the post of CPP secretary against the backdrop allegations of irregularities committed in the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi. Mr Kalmadi is the chairman of the Organising Committee.
On the demand constituting a JPC, the Congress allies in the UPA are sending conflicting signals. Leaders of the DMK, the Trinamul Congress and the NCP are not against the JPC but they do not want to be seen with the Opposition on it.
A CPP general body meeting can put the record straight on the issues of corruption, Bihar defeat, alliances and set the tone of coming Assembly elections in five states.
Surprisingly, no one in the party has so far taken moral responsibility of the waterloo in Bihar and offered to resign.