Digvijay Statements Worry Kesri Camp

Some Congress leaders close to Congress president Sitaram Kesri are upset at statements by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on three points, each directly opposed to Kesris preferences.

Singh is reported to have said in Bhopal that President SD Sharma should get a second term, that the Congress should participate in a coalition along with the United Front at the Centre, and that Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad should resign if he is charged in the fodder scam.

The Congress has steadfastly refused to take a stand on what Laloo Prasad should do but senior party leaders have little doubt that Kesri is backing Laloo Prasad to the hilt. Some of them say he even wants to forge an electoral alliance with the Laloo Prasad-led Janata Dal for the next general elections.

Digvijay Singhs statement on the desirability of the Congress joining the coalition at the Centre also goes against the grain of Kesris priorities. In fact, it matches the stand of the partys Lok Sabha floor leader Sharad Pawar, who would like to upstage Kesri.

On the Presidency, the Chief Minister argued that SD Sharma hails from Madhya Pradesh and the nations first President from the state should get a second term. A large section of party leaders wants to back a Dalit for the Presidents post. Even if Kesri did not want a Dalit, Kesri and Sharma have had an antagonistic relationship for decades.

Some party leaders opposed to Singh commented that he seemed to be flexing his muscles in the run up to the partys organisational elections, due to begin this month.

A number of Kesri backers have gathered forces against Digvijay Singh and would like not only to ensure that their men gain the upper hand in the state party unit, but also to see him ousted from office.