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| More Headache for Kejriwal as Aap Internal Strife Intensifies | | | Hari Shankar Vyas
Infighting has started in the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. Many leaders are not happy with the "autocratic" behaviour of Arvind Kejriwal. On one hand is Team Kejriwal, which wants full control over the party and Government, and on the other hand are Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, who want to take charge of the organisation.
In fact, control over the party is the real reason for infighting. Probably sensing this, Kejriwal offered to resign as the party's national convener on Wednesday, just before the National Executive of the party was scheduled to meet in New Delhi to decide the fate of party rebels Yadav and Bhushan.
The internal Lokpal of the party, Admiral L Ramdas, had raised questions over the fact that Kejriwal held two posts simultaneously - that of the CM and national convenor. The issue of 'one man, one post' was raised earlier too, but Kejriwal supporters didn't allow any discussion on this. His supporters are in the majority in the National Executive, and the Political Affairs Committee.
Fighting is not limited to 'one man one post' only, there is also a row over the selection of candidates for the Delhi Elections. Bhushan had raised questions over this, angering Kejriwal supporters. The issue of donations to the party also persists, and some of Kejriwal's close aides are on the radar of Bhushan and Yadav. Then there is the issue of extension of the party in other States.
CONG INFIGHTING DRAMA?
Another party dealing with internal strife is the Congress. If you go to the AICC office, you will hear many rumors. A leader said when Rahul Gandhi went for a holiday, one of his opponents threw a party, while another leader said ladoos were distributed. But reliable sources in the party say all these controversies are stage managed. At last, it is Rahul who will take command of the party. Before that, an attempt is being made to prove that a complete democratic process is being followed for Rahul's official crowing.
As per the strategy, Sonia's reliable aides have given statements that Rahul will take charge and move forward taking the whole party together. Two of her trusted lieutenants - AK Antony and Ashok Gehlot - said when Rahul returns from his trip, he will take charge of the party.
After that, one of the members of Team Rahul, Sachin Pilot, said Sonia should continue as president of the party. KV Thomas and Ashwini Kumar gave statements in support of Pilot. Before that, Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath had said that Rahul should be given command of the party with all the liberty. One of the leaders of the party said, as per the strategy of the party, different leaders are giving different statements.
CONG SESSION PREPARATIONS
Preparations have started for the Congress session in April. Sources say Shimla has been chosen as the venue. Although some leaders wanted the session to be held in Bengaluru, it is certain that Shimla and Bengaluru were the final two options. Before that, Dehradun and Chandigarh were also being discussed as possible venues. Leaders of Punjab Congress were of the view that since elections would be held in the State in the next two years, the session should be organised there. However, most of the leaders felt it should be held in a State where the party is ruling.
Now, the agenda of Shimla session is being prepared. Party leaders have clarified two things - that the tenure of the Congress president can be reduced to three years; tenure of State presidents would continue to be three years, and secondly, Rahul can be given the command of the party. This means that after three years, ie just before the Lok Sabha Elections, Rahul will be elected president again.
It is said that under the chairmanship of Sonia, a coordination committee can be set up which will talk to alliance partners. Some of the senior leaders will be a part of this panel. The Congress might also clear its stand on the alliance politics during the Shimla session. Presently, most of the alliance partners have pulled back, but the Congress will try to tie up with them again.
The Congress will have fresh talks with alliance partners in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, and try to finalise the tie-up. Sonia can be given this responsibility because most of the Congress leaders think that regional khastrapas don't feel comfortable talking to Rahul. The party is especially likely to reach out to Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and Jaganmohan Reddy.
MANJHI'S ON A ROLL
Jitan Ram Manjhi is fascinated with the success of AAP and has formed a new party called HUM or Hindustan Awaam Morcha. On February 28, he announced the formation of his party at Shri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna.
On this occasion, all JDU rebels were present. Shakuni Chaudhary, the Kushwaha leader who fought with Nitish Kumar forming the equation of Luv-Kush ie Kurmi-Koiry, is now with Manjhi. His son, Samrat Chaudhary, parted ways with Nitish, and is now backing Manjhi. Apart from him, leaders like Narendra Singh, Mahachandra Prasad Singh, Nitish Mishra, Shahid Ali Khan and Sadhu Yadav have also joined Manjhi's party.
Now the question is who would be badly hit by the party? Manjhi is being supported by three big leaders of three prominent castes ie Rajputs, Bhumihars and Brahmins; Narendra Singh is a Rajput leader, Mahachandra Singh is a Bhumihar, while Nitish Mishra is a Brahmin leader. They will hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) only. The BJP is trying to get Kushwaha voters, but may get a big jolt in its endeavour due to Shakuni and Samrat Chaudhary.
Manjhi himself is trying to attract a big chunk of Mahadalit vote bank and this will harm Nitish. As far as Muslim voters are concerned, Shahid Ali Khan might prove helpful. Whatever Muslim votes Manjhi might get would come from the RJD-JDU vote bank. It means, as per the present scenario, Manjhi can harm both Nitish and the BJP.
But it is being said that BJP is trying to use Manjhi in its favour. Probably it will provide him a helicopter so that he can campaign against Nitish in the entire State. The BJP is hopeful that Manjhi will cause more harm to Nitish and Lalu Prasad Yadav.
SHIVRAJ'S PLIGHT
The Madhya Pradesh Government is trapped in his own net. It has registered a 20-year-old case against former CM Digvijaya Singh and former Speaker Shri Narayan Tiwari. The State Government is itself stuck in the Vyapam scam. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife are facing allegations of irregularities in this case, and an Fir has been registered against Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. Congress leaders have put forth many documents and are targeting the Chief Minister. The Fir against the Governor has been registered on the basis of these very documents. Digvijaya Singh is the most vocal in this matter. He has brought all the big leaders of Congress on one platform on this issue, and is targeting the CM. Probably, Chouhan will also land up in the net of investigation, which is why it won't be wise to lodge an FIR against those who are targeting him. BJP leaders are saying that Justice Sachin Dwivedi committee has been investigating the matter of appointment in the MP Assembly for the past 10 years. So, the question is if Chouhan has been on the CM post for the past 10 years, why has the FIR been registered now? Instead of defending himself, filing a case against his opponents is not the right strategy.
JAC BILL STUCK
The NDA Government had got the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill with all pomp and grandeur. The managers of the Government claimed that what the UPA didn't do in five years, the NDA Government did immediately. This was the Constitution Amendment Bill, so it was sent for the ratification of half of the States after being passed by both Houses in Parliament. Half of the States ratified it and the President also gave the consent. But the Government is yet to issue a notification for it. Because the notification has not been issued, the process of constitution of JAC has not started yet. Chief Justice of Supreme Court will be the chairman of this committee, which will have two imminent citizens. To select these persons, a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the PM. Leaders of the Opposition party will also be a part of the panel. However, this committee has not started working.
Meanwhile, two PILs have been filed against this law. There has been confusion on the process of transfer and posting of judges. At last, it was decided that the collegium system will work for a while. But the question is when the JAC has got permission from the President, why is the Government not starting the process to constitute it? There is great resentment in judiciary on the Bill. Some say the Government will move forward after the court's decision on the two PILs filed against the Bill.
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