Cong Wary Of Complacency In Delhi, Rajasthan Polls

Some Congress leaders engaged in managing assembly elections in Rajasthan and Delhi have warned their cadre not to allow encouraging surveys make them complacent. They say it is `touch and go' for the Congress in Delhi and expect just a simple majority in Rajasthan. As for Madhya Pradesh, they say it is a hopeless case.

Party leaders have warned aspirants not to underestimate the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS), which will surely put its weight behind the BJP. Any amount of public resentment against the BJP because of rising prices may not be reflected in votes unless the party ensures that the anti-BJP voters reach the polling stations.

These views have been openly expressed by party functionaries close to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. They explain the unusual caution by saying that over confidence could cause lethargy among the party cadre.

In Rajasthan, factional squabbles are worrying the party. This is not new for the party in the state but a lot would depend on ticket distribution, say senior leaders of the state.

A senior Congress leader from Rajasthan was upbeat as far as the general atmosphere in the State went. However, he did not expect the Congress tally to go beyond 105-110 in a 200-member Assem- bly. He also feared that an internal fight might ensue over chief ministership unless the party got a comfortable margin of majority.

As far as Madhya Pradesh goes, Congress leaders admit that they are on a weak wicket. The party is ruling the state and Chief Minister Digvijay Singh faces several charges of corruption, some from his own party colleagues. The anti-incumbency factor would work against the Congress here, senior leaders from the state admit.

Some party leaders at the local level echo such sentiments. A ticket aspirant in Delhi yesterday said that, although the skyrocketing prices of onions in the Capital was a major factor against the BJP, even such issues would help only those Congress candidates who had a strong base in their constituencies and who had a proper election machinery in place.

"Every Tom, Dick and Harry is not going to get the advantage", he said. Asked to specify, he said that if candidates with no grassroot hold, are imposed from above, the party machinery might not be enthused enough to work hard in the elections.

The observers for the States going to polls on November 25 are expected to submit their reports to Party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday. Forms are being distributed for ticket aspirants to make their applications for consideration by the party for tickets.