Chhattisgarh: YC office-bearer expelled on sabotage charges

Raipur, January 09

While Congress is still in dilemma over action against saboteurs who spoiled its victory chances in several seats during recently concluded assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, its frontal organisation Youth Congress (YC) seems to have decided to show doors to such people as it started the job by sacking one of the State office-bearers for working against party’s official candidate. The YC has shot show cause notice to seven more State office-bearers pertaining to their anti-party activities during polls.

The action has been taken by YC national secretary Himmat Singh who received loads of complaints against organisation’s Raipur Lok Sabha president Sunil Kukreja and seven Vidhan Sabha heads.

The organisation had suspended Kukreja ten days back. Now, State YC president Uttam Vasudev has received fresh letter from Singh pertaining to expulsion of Kukreja from the organisation. In the letter, Singh said Kukreja was suspended due to his anti-party activities during polls, but since there was no change in his demeanour even after suspension, he should be expelled with immediate effect.

The YC action on Kukreja is another shocker for Ajit Jogi camp with which the former is linked. More importantly, State YC chief Vasudev, who too belongs to Jogi camp, could not do anything to save Kukreja. In fact, two out of seven VS presidents, who have been asked to clarify their stand, are also Jogi stalwarts. However, the YC sources deny any deliberate action against Jogi followers as five other VS heads under national leadership’s radar belong to organisational camp.

It was sabotage in several assembly constituencies that eventually cost dear to Congress in recent elections and it had to concede embarrassing defeat for third time in a row.

Though the party candidates complained against saboteurs to PCC president and even submitted lists of dissidents who worked against them, no action has been taken against anybody by far considering ensuing general elections.

However, the party’s silence should not be inferred as amnesty for saboteurs. Rather, it simply wants to focus on Lok Sabha polls at present and give another chance to the dissidents to prove their loyalty. Sources say the new PCC chief Bhupesh Baghel is less likely to spare the saboteurs after polls as the high command has already given him free hand.