Congress leaders with a grouse get 20 questions from Rahul Gandhi to answer

Dissidents in the Congress state unit who had complained against the state leadership were in for a shock when AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi handed them 20 questions to reply in writing.

The MPs and legislators are showing signs of nervousness as they are unsure of how Gandhi will react when they list some of their grievances.

A senior MP representing Vidarbha said, "Frankly, such a process where everything needs to be put on paper is not a politically wise decision. It would be like a first information report against Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for ignoring our projects. But then if the CM counters effectively before Gandhi citing valid reasons we will be the ones who will be at the receiving end."

The common grouse against the state leadership was "Chavan does not instantly respond to calls or appointments. The critical posts of Mumbai Congress president and State Women's Commission have been vacant for more than a year. Chavan is not filling posts in state corporations and the cabinet."

Several MPs and MLAs spoken to were candid in saying Gandhi's questionnaire will put the onus of delays in pursuing projects on Chavan, and hold Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre and Congress district chiefs responsible for some of the issues related to public welfare.

Gandhi expects every individual who takes a complaint to AICC to provide his/ her own details along with the projects which they argued are being delayed because of administrative slackness.

A senior minister who was among those who visited Gandhi to seek his audience and apprise him of the affairs of the state said, "The 20-point questionnaire came as a shock. Now, we feel as if we are being made to sit for the UPSC examination."

Another two-term MP said, "An element of lobbying against each other is inbuilt ithe Congress. Often AICC leaders encourage such acts to elicit the mood in the organisation. Often it is promoted to get a real feel of an individual's status in the government."

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