‘factionalism’ affects Cong in Haridwar dist ahead of polls

HARIDWAR: Despite a change of guard with Ganesh Godiyal being appointed the new state president, factionalism continued to hit the Congress.

If a review of meetings on poll preparedness in Haridwar chaired by Tilaj Raj Behad, the working president of Pradesh Congress Committee, is any indication, the party continues to be besotted by problems.

Behad, who is also the party in charge of Haridwar district, has held meetings with party leaders in Haridwar city, Haridwar

rural, Jwalapur and Ranipur assembly segments to draw up a list of probable candidates.

The meetings, however, were marred by factionalism and infighting, with several leaders resorting to finger pointing and making allegations against probable rival candidates. Many raised slogans in favour of local leaders despite Behad making it clear that sloganeering and show of strength alone won’t help in winning tickets to contest the polls.

At a meeting in Bahadrabad, part of the Ranipur Assembly segment, a day ago, workers belonging to two rival factions came to blows in front of Behad, who was displeased over the incident. “Such indiscipline, show of strength by supporters and jostling for tickets by downplaying other aspirants won’t do any good either to the party or its leaders and workers. Gone are the days when such tactics used to work. Now, only those who work sincerely at booth level, adhere to the directives of the party high command and the state unit, reach out to voters and work actively in their respective areas will be given preference,” Behad, one of the four PCC working presidents, said.