Act against disloyal elements: UP Congress

Lucknow: Veterans in the Uttar Pradesh Congress are upset over the growing indiscipline in party ranks and want the party high command to take firm action against the offenders.

A group of senior leaders have sought an appointment with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and will be meeting him in this regard soon.

“We will seek firm action against ‘disloyal’ leaders, irrespective of their stature, since this is needed if the Congress wishes to survive,” said a senior leader.

UP Congress president Raj Babbar recently expelled two party leaders — Sanjay Dixit and Ramendra Jenwar — on grounds of indiscipline and both are continuing their hate campaign against the party.

Ramendra Jenwar, a former student leader, has been making unprintable comments on the social media against Mr Babbar and using his film roles to target him.

“This kind of behaviour has never been seen in politics. We have to deal firmly with such elements and the party should file a police case against this man,” said a party veteran.

Apart from these “black sheep”, at least three party spokesmen are also misusing their positions to target the party leadership in the state as well at the national level.

One spokesman went on to claim that the Congress was in a “pitiable” state in UP during a TV debate. His amused counterpart in the BJP said, “I thought he would defend his party, but instead he agreed with what we said about the Congress. With spokesmen like these, how can the Congress even expect to make a comeback in UP?”

While Mr Raj Babbar refused to comment on the issue, a close aide of his admitted that majority of those holding party positions in UP had been appointed on the recommendations of other senior leaders in the party.

“Mr Raj Babbar is being made to lead another man’s army. He is working hard but none of the leaders provide any back up to his efforts,” the aide said.