
MUMBAI, MARCH 14: The world has no sympathy for a loser. This was seen in the reactions of Congressmen in the State as few expressed regrets about the undignified exit of Sitaram Kesri as party president. Instead, there were sighs of relief that the “ambiguity” about the party leadership was finally over.
Sharad Pawar’s role in the coup was clearly visible in the reminder by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee that “it was the first PCC to call for Sonia Gandhi’s take-over of the party soon after the elections.”
MPCC general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni told The Indian Express that party workers saw no hitches in the ratification of the decision by the All India Congress Committee, despite Kesri’s stand on the issue. “Once Kesri made a public announcement to resign, there was no point in holding out any longer.
The CWC was within reason and authority to call for his exit and announce Sonia’s appointment as president,” he said. Senior Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal expressed relief at theend of the impasse over the leadership issue and said, “Soniaji has the support of all Congressmen and her leadership is sure to galvanise the party cadres and work in the favour of the poor and downtrodden in the country.” Gurudas Kamat, Lok Sabha MP and vice president of MPCC, also expressed faith in Sonia’s leadership qualities. He claimed she would help the Congress regain its past glory by uniting the party all over the country.
The mood was upbeat among Youth Congress cadres with Brihanmumbai Pradesh Congress Committee president Charan Singh Sapra saying, “Soniaji enthused the youth cadres during her election campaign and breathed life into the rank and file..”