Amitabh Shukla
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday to faced an angry bunch of MLAs, MPs and Congress workers in an executive committee meeting of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). Several MLAs described the political situation after the meeting as "critical" and the worst phase in the second innings of Dikshit.
Due to the angry outbursts, Dikshit walked out of the meeting midway. DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma tried to pacify her and bring her back in the meeting. However, an incensed Dikshit refused to join the meeting.
After Dikshit left, the MLAs considered close to her, went to her residence and huddled together for a damage control exercise. "This is shocking," Dikshit told HT later in the day in her office. She said that the meeting was supposed to be that of the executive committee, but the agenda seemed to have been planned in advance. The CM said the she thought the meeting would be a closed-door affair to discuss and solve the party matters but it was held in the open. "This should not have happened," she said.
The meeting was convened for better co-ordination between the party and the government, discuss the delimitation exercise of the Election Commission and the organisational elections for the party. However, none of the issues were discussed as those present were targeting only Dikshit. The CM was criticised on the power and water front, bureaucracy becoming all powerful, overlooking the suggestions and genuine demands of the legislators, transfer and postings, appointments in the Boards and Corporations etc.
All the drama happened in the presence of AICC general secretary in-charge of
Asked why weren't the MLAs consulted before taking important decisions, Dikshit said that the Cabinet decides the policy of the government and it is representative of all the Congress members, including MLAs. "We are implementing the policies of the Congress party and not doing anything against it," she said.
On the complaint of the MLAs that the government does not implement their suggestions, the CM said that she hardly gets any input or suggestion from the MLAs. "We try to incorporate the suggestions if we get any," she said. Dikshit refused to comment when asked whether she would go to any other meeting convened by the DPCC later on.
Though the drama unfolded in the DPCC office, MLAs of rival camps traded charge throughout the day. Those loyal to Dikshit said she was being unfairly treated and humiliated despite getting a second mandate for the party. Those in the rival camp said that the Congress would lose if the current policies continued. (2005)
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