CONGRESS INITIATES CRITICAL REVIEW OF LOK SABHA POLL REVERSES IN MADHYA PRADESH

History repeats itself. We expected that BJP in Madhya Pradesh may prove that this saying is untrue. During last 24-years’ rule, BJP could not complete the duration of the Assembly sessions. The session invariably ended without transacting the business approved by the Business advisory committee. Before the
commencement of the newly elected Assembly the BJP promises longer sitting. But they could not fulfil this promise in the very first session.

Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday, 14 days ahead of schedule, after transacting listed business, including passage of the Rs 3.65 lakh crore state budget. Finance minister Jagdish Devda moved a proposal for passing the budget but opposition Congress demanded a division (casting of votes) on it, which was turned down by Speaker Narendra Tomar on the ground that permission was not sought for it. He then adjourned the House sine die.

LOP Umang Singhar later told reporters his party was right in seeking division and alleged BJP was afraid of discussions on issues like the alleged nursing scam. Earlier, the treasury and opposition benches clashed after BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey presented a private member’s bill seeking quashing of Article 30 of
Constitution, which confers right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.

Pandey was supported by colleague Rameshwar Sharma. Atif Aqueel of Cong opposed it and said BJP was
raking up the issue to divert attention from the nursing scam. There was no discussion on the bill. Asked about Congress creating ruckus on the issue and if there was any plan to close down madarsas, as chief minister Mohan Yadav told reporters in Chhindwara. During the session, Congress trained its guns on Minister Vishwas Sarang, accusing him of involvement in the alleged nursing scam. Sarang was medical education minister in the previous BJP govt.

Besides the BJP and the Congress are facing first electoral challenge after the completion of recent Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections. Amarvada Vidhan Sabha Constituency is going to polls on July 10. Amarvada constituency was declared vacant when the sitting Congress member loyal to Congress stalwart Kamal Nath resigned and joined the BJP. He not only resigned from the Congress but also resigned from the Assembly causing by poll. The voters of same constituency will exercise votes on July 10. It is a prestigious contest for both the parties.

The state Congress has started an enquiry into the causes of humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha polls. The Congress lost all 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state and failed to win in Vidhan Sabha elections last year. The  State Congress on Saturday held a meeting to brainstorm and review the reasons for the party’s loss in the recent assembly’ and Lok Sabha elections.

Party candidates for the last assembly elections, including the MLAs who won, were given forms seeking their feedback on the defeat. The meeting was headed by AICC general secretary and state  affairs in charge Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, PCC chief Jitu Patwari, and LOP Umang Singhar.

A week ago, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge had sent a three-member fact-finding team led by former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to directly speak to Congress’ Lok Sabha candidates about the party’s loss in the 29 seats of MP. Chavan had conducted one-on-one interviews with the candidates and
then returned to New Delhi. No state leaders were present during these interviews.

On Saturday, Congress assembly election candidates were asked to fill out feed- back forms. The feedback sought included the present situation of the party organization in Madhya Pradesh, the role and activities of the state unit, reasons for the defeat in polls, and the responsibilities and contributions of block, district,
mandalam and booth presidents during the elections. Feedback was also asked of other political parties in the state, and candidates were asked to provide suggestions on how to strengthen the organization.

Speaking to reporters, former minister Sajjan Singh Verma said that the feedback will be documented and used to develop a plan to strengthen the organization in MP. “The feedback has been sought in writing so that it gives a fair idea on what should be our plan. We also have to constitute a new team – the new MP Congress Committee will be appointed. So, the feedback will suggest who are the people that should be given responsibilities. Which are the faces that we should include and omit in the new body.,” Verma said.

AICC general secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh said, “We are certainly disappointed with the results in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, but we will make the organisation stronger so that it becomes the voice of the people and expose the anti-people policies of the BJP govt.”

PCC chief Jitu Patwari said, “Everyone will have to work together to strengthen the organization at the state, district, block, ward, mandal, sector and, booth levels, only then will our organization be strong.