Keshkal bypoll: Cong to take disciplinary action against rebels

Rajesh Tiwari appointed as election observer
 

Raipur, June 19, 2013

Congress will take strong disciplinary action against rebels who would work against party’s official candidate during Keshkal bypoll. Appointing Rajesh Tiwari as election observer, union minister of state and acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant has clearly instructed him to take instant disciplinary action against rebel party office-bearers and worker. The election in Keshkal will be held for the post of nagar panchayat president on June 24. 

Mahant, who got the baton of state Congress after May 25 naxal incident, had apparently warned on the first day of his appointment that he would not tolerate any kind of indiscipline in the party. 

However, unmoved by his warning, Ajit Jogi faction has decided to field its candidate as independent in Keshkal bypoll.

Jogi faction resorted to this rebellious decision because the party ignored its candidate Saina Memon and gave ticket to Mamta Chandrakar. The Jogi faction tried to mount pressure on Mahant and other senior leaders to pull Chandrakar’s candidature and project Memon as official Congress candidate but in vain. 

Eventually, the Jogi faction decided to go against the partylines and field Memon as independent candidate in election. 

Mahant is said to have taken the matter seriously as the following day after the bypoll all the partymen including national leaders will muster in Jagdalpur to pay tribute to Congmen who got killed during naxal attack on May 25.

It is learnt that Mahant does not want to convey wrong message to the partymen that he ignores indiscipline.

The Jogi camp, on the other hand, is said to be adamant with its decision. The party insiders say that it would be bad omen for the state unit if the Jogi camp fields independent candidate in the bypoll and Jogi attends the tribute programme on June 25 as the forum to remember deceased Congmen might turn into a battlefield for conflicting leaders.