Rahul came with a new script,Cong loses plot

While many former state and district presidents claimed they raised the demand for change of leadership directly or indirectly,loyalists of state party president Capt Amarinder Singh claim otherwise.

As damage-control,Amarinder loyalists’ issued a press note with a list of signatories pledging support for the beleaguered chief and blaming vested interests for the “disinformation campaign”. This set another round of allegations,this time over names figuring in the list. Some leaders said their consent was not taken before including their names as signatories. But not one,barring one MLA,agreed to come on record. “They had sought his consent in the past for a statement but not now,” he said. He too later backtracked saying he was called and “hauled” up.

Others expressed their “anger” on condition of anonymity. “For whose consumption are these statements being issued? The general practice is to take a blanket consent for all statements and include as many names as possible. But giving out names as supporters,of some without consent,is doing more harm than good to anyone. If an MLA or district president is called and asked if his or her name can be included in list of signatories,what is the option they have but to agree as otherwise they risk being seen in the rival camp. It has become a self-defeating exercise,” said an MLA,requesting anonymity.

Amarinder’s OSD Karanpal Sekhon,when contacted,said no name was included without consent. “We were two-three people who called all those whose names were included in the list. Not one name has been put without their permission,” he added.

The developments have led to dismay among party old-timers who say that Rahul’s visit was aimed at regaining lost ground but the blame-game has once again brought the fissures out in the open. A senior Congress leader who told the delay in deciding on leadership issue is costing the party dear,says no one seems to be thinking about the party.

“There are groups within groups,with each having a different contender for the top job. This is all springing from no clarity on whether there will be a change of guard in the state or Amarinder has the mandate to stay till 2014 polls. The issue of leadership is best left to party president and no one should issue statements for or against anyone as the Congress can ill-afford it at this juncture. Rahul has got the feedback and he should now decide without much delay,” he said.