All is not well in Cong house

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 22

While the Congress at the local level tries to show a united face, the reality is that all is not well among party leaders.

Factionalism has started surfacing among party leaders when Lok Sabha elections are just round the corner.

Amidst all this, problems for Congress candidate Ravneet Bittu seem to be increasing as party leaders have failed to stand united.

Now, district Congress president (Urban) Ashwani Sharma and MLA from Ludhiana East constituency, Sanjay Talwar, are at loggerheads. The matter is related to the appointment of ward presidents.

Ashwani Sharma has released a list of ward presidents from the Ludhiana East constituency, which MLA Sanjay Talwar has rejected and issued appointment letters to 19 ward presidents.

On the other hand, Ashwani Sharma has cancelled the appointments as no appointment can be made without his recommendation.

Ashwani Sharma said he had made new appointments for only Ward Number 19 and 16. “For Ward Number 19, the name of Aashish Taparia was recommended by MLA Talwar, but it was not accepted by me because the party cannot give posts to members of one family. Leena Taparia is president of the women’s wing and her daughter-in-law is also a councillor,” said Sharma.

Sharma had appointed Kamal Rampal from Ward Number 19 and Chander Bhardwaj from Ward Number 16. Rejecting the decision of the DCC chief, MLA Talwar made appointments of all 19 ward presidents.

“The appointments stand cancelled as these can’t be made without the approval of the DCC chief. The MLA does not have the power to make appointments. All earlier ward presidents will resume as of now,” said Sharma.

On the other hand, MLA Sanjay Talwar said the DCC chief should have taken the decision by taking MLA, block presidents and councillors into confidence, but none was consulted before taking the decision.

“I belong to the Ludhiana East constituency. The ward presidents appointed by us are supporters of the party and have been working for the party since long. Questions can be raised if any person is found to be going against the policies and wishes of the party. But I know all these people and they have been dedicatedly working for the party for the past many years. With elections round the corner, we need such people who are loyal and the decision was taken keeping this in view,” said Talwar.

Bone of contention

• Ashwani Sharma has released a list of ward presidents from the Ludhiana East constituency, which MLA Sanjay Talwar has rejected and issued appointment letters to 19 ward presidents.
• On the other hand, Ashwani Sharma has cancelled the appointments as no appointment can be made without his recommendation.
• MLA Sanjay Talwar said the DCC chief should have taken the decision by taking MLA, block presidents and councillors into confidence, but none was consulted before taking the decision.