There is a sort of confusion among the rank and file ofCongress in Maharashtra. Charges of corruption against leaders and shrinkingbase because of increasing presence of Sharad Pawar-led NCP in grass rootslevel is creating problems for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee(MPCC).
"There is price rise, inflation....attack on us becauseof charges of corruption against some leaders. We are passing through difficulttimes," said a senior leader, a Congress loyalist. "For loyalistslike us, the situation is more difficult as we have to come to the defense ofthe party," he added.
Ahead of the 2014,Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, large scale changes are needed in theorganizational structure “ if the party wants to maintain its dominance in legislativebodies, say Congress loyalists and party insiders.
“We are atcrossroads…..these are difficult times for all of us…. The high command needsto take some strong measures at the party level or else the elections aheadwould be tough for us…the infighting has to stop,” a senior Congress leadersaid.
For quite some time there were reports that MPCC PresidentManikrao Thakre would be replaced, however, it has not happened. "We arenot aware of the delay," another leader said.
The crisis commenced in 2009 “ when the CWG scam involvingPune MP Suresh Kalmadi and Adarsh scandal involving the then Chief MinisterAshok Chavan surfaced. However, the high command was prompt and deputed theMinister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan to lead the State. Though he ensureda transparent administration, he is yet to show his skills on the field.
Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh also faced chargesof having assets disproportionate to known sources of his income .He had toresign, but the new Mumbai Congress chief is yet to be named. And now comes the allegations of SchoolEducation Minister Rajendra Darda being involved in the coal scam.
“Manikrao is notdashing….he cannot take on the NCP head on, while Chavan is more of a polishedbureaucrat than a politician,” Congress insiders say, adding that on the otherhand Narayan Rane does not get along well with some senior leaders and havebeen extremely vocal against the NCP.
