I'm glad I'm not a cwc member,' quipped upcc chief Salman Khursheed, as senior Congress leaders arrived for the apex body's crucial meeting on May 20. 'Salay gaddaron se milay huey hain (these guys are in league with the traitors),' shouted Congress workers as they attacked the vehicles of cwc members.
Former party president Sitaram Kesri, manhandled as he emerged from his car, got the worst of it. Others who came in for abuse were former party vice-president Jitendra Prasada, Rajesh Pilot and even senior general secretary Pranab Mukherjee. The suspicions of Congress workers are not unfounded, nor is expelled Congress leader Sharad Pawar's claim of silent support from within the party.
Topping the list of suspects are cwc members Rajesh Pilot, Meira Kumar, Prasada and Kesri. Former Orissa chief minister J.B. Patnaik, senior leader Madhavsinh Solanki and a host of MPs - among them P.C. Chacko, Prithviraj Chauhan, Praful Patel - are also believed to have itchy feet. Pilot, who enjoys an anti-establishment image, reportedly knew of the rebels' plans before they came to fruition, but was in two minds whether to join them. In the cwc, he partially endorsed P.A. Sangma's stand, pointing out that there was no need to project anyone as prime minister. The question of leadership was best left to the cpp. But he was not privy to the letter of protest signed by the three and delivered to 10, Janpath at 6 pm on May 15. He expressed his disapproval of it on record the next day and reiterated his commitment to the Congress 'which has given me so much. Whatever I am today is because of the Congress'. There's no love lost between Pilot and Pawar, one reason why the former may have balked at making a move. At a subsequent informal cwc meeting, though, he did express his reservations over the expulsion of Pawar & Co, advocating the milder path of suspension.
He's virtually the number one suspect. It was to him that a piqued Sonia, granting audience to cwc members after her resignation, turned when she said 'some others' shared the view of the rebels. However, the Congress would be loathe to lose him, because he has a fairly good image and commands support both in Rajasthan and his home state of UP.
Kesri has come in for flak because he is seen as Tariq Anwar's mentor and is unlikely to abandon him. Indeed, Anwar's proximity to rjd chief Laloo Yadav follows from Kesri's excellent equation with the Yadav leader. While he may continue to lend tacit support to the new formation out of loyalty to Anwar, 'chacha' is not likely to quit the Congress.
Former Rao acolyte Prasada's proximity to Pawar is well known. He was one of the two senior leaders who called on Sangma hours after he raised the standard of rebellion. Unlike Pawar & Co, who can win their seats without the benefit of Congress support, Prasada is a pure organisation man. While he has no reason to be fond of Sonia, who effectively sidelined him, he lacks a base and is dependent on the party for his political survival. Hence, his hasty resignation from the cwc as an expression of solidarity with Sonia.
Meira Kumar, who won from Delhi in the teeth of a bjp wave, has been given a hard time by the 10, Janpath coterie.She doesn't get along with Delhi chief minister Shiela Dixit, who is very close to Sonia, and has reportedly cried on Pawar's ample shoulder more than once. As a woman and Dalit, her defection would deprive the Congress of a potent symbol.
Patnaik and Pawar have a long-standing friendship but that's only one reason why he is prominent on the list of suspects. After his unceremonious dismissal as Orissa chief minister, he's been unhappy with the leadership. The tallest leader in Orissa, he could weld together a credible alliance with sections of the Congress, Janata Dal and bjd.
Others who are close to Pawar but don't figure in the list of suspects are Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh and cwc member Manmohan Singh. If Pawar had asked him, Digvijay would probably have advised him to stick to Maharashtra. Ordered to issue statements in favour of Sonia and then summoned to Delhi to display his solidarity, he has been vocal in his support of the Congress president. As a regional satrap with a solid base, his clout in the party has increased after Pawar's exit but Arjun Singh is ever ready to checkmate him.
For the moment, there will be no witch hunt. Sonia's priority is to keep her flock together. To this end, MPs were summoned to an aicc meeting on Tuesday. She also made it a point to call on Kesri the day after he was roughed up. In fact, she is going out of her way to cement support. But those who figure prominently on the list may well come in for the axe in future.
