Stay cool till Antony panel's report: Cong high command

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi July 1, 2008

Desperate over high octane performance of its political rival BJP during a three-day meet of its working committee, the State Congress seems to be wary to start polls preparation for the Lok Sabha elections.

The State Congress leaders are learnt to have sent an SOS to the central high command who in turn has asked them to stay cool till the report of AK Antony Committee is finally studied by the party headquarters.Formed some 10 years ago, AK Antony Committees' report gained significance after the Congress faced repeated discomfiture in the elections of Gujarat and Karnataka.

The seven-member committee comprising AICC general secretaries Digvijay Singh and Mukul Wasnik, Union Ministers PR Dasmunsi and Mani Shankar Aiyar, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior leader Urmila Singh, has been asked to present the main findings of the report soon.

The party sources said the seven-member committee had also been asked to suggest stratagem the party needed to put in operation in Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa where party is stated to be in poor health. If sources are to be believed if the findings of the report were implemented in Jharkhand it would affect a sea change in the organisation and some of the stalwarts and aspirants of party ticket could be the direct casualty of this. Apropos Jharkhand well-placed sources revealed that the party had indeed started preparing for next Lok Sabha polls.

Some of the names have been discussed although informally since a good numbers of leaders apprehend the next Lok Sabha polls along with Assembly elections could take place very soon. Talking about the party shying away or to say making a delay from announcing the names of candidates or formally announcing its polls campaign, a senior party leader said that central high command might take a major decision on its policy of polls alliance.

If committees' report finds favour the party might eschew from having any truck with regional parties like JMM in the State. It is one of the probable reasons, said the sources. At a time when the party is in the bid to rope in potential leaders from other parties, a piece of suggestion might disturb their strategy as for those who have joined the party bearing elections in mind, the report have suggested that their entry be declined from ticket distribution.

Meanwhile, the change of guards in different States and Jharkhand Governor being given extra charge of Orissa is seen as the party doing its homework secretly before it moves to polls battle. "It might not be surprising if the central high command takes a major decision on the fate of Koda Government in the near future. A look simple administrative reshuffle might be a prelude to a major political drama", said a senior party leader.