M A I N   N E W S

Rebels will be adjusted in govt, says Bhajan Lal
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Most of the office-bearers of the Yamunanagar district Congress Committee, Block Committee, Youth Congress, and Secretary of HPCC, Mr Satpal Kaushik, and representatives of the Mahila Morcha today resigned en masse in protest against the party ticket being given to Ms Krishna Malik for the Yamunanagar seat. In Sadhaura, rebels have announced their own candiate, Deep Chand, against official candidate, Ram Lal.

Panchkula, January 15
Faced with rebellion within the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) over ticket distribution, its president, Mr Bhajan Lal, in his characteristic style today sought to placate the rebels by offering to accommodate them in the government.

His offer is in direct contravention to the spirit of the newly enacted law, putting restriction on number of ministers to 10 per cent of the strength of the elected House. In accordance with the law, the strength of the Council of Ministers in Haryana cannot be more than nine. So, if Punjab and Himachal Pradesh took recourse to accommodate senior partymen as parliamentary secretaries, the Haryana Congress rebels who have been denied ticket now, could hope for a top job in various boards and corporations. This, irrespective of the fact that the law enacted last year, followed a debate that such political appointments are a drain on the state exchequer, and made after ignoring expertise required for top jobs in various boards and corporations.

Other than Sirsa, Fatehabad, Panipat and Kurukshetra, rebellion in the rank and file of the party has come out in the open. Many rebel candidates have been calling meetings of their supporters and have decided to contest the elections as independent candidates. Some of the partymen, who have been denied a ticket, have also resigned from the party in protest. Mr Bhajan Lal said there were many claimants for ticket for the Assembly elections, especially after the Congress had swept the parliamentary elections. He said the electorate in the state was in favour of the Congress because of the party policies at the Centre and disillusionment with the Chautala regime.

When asked about the revolt against the Surjewalas in Kaithal by supporters of Mr Teji Mann and dharna by rebels from Hassangarh outside the Delhi residence of the ticket screening committee chairman, Mr Moti Lal Vohra, he said: “There is no rebellion in the party. Everybody will be adjusted in the government, after we win the elections. We hope to win 80 seats in these elections.”

Coming to the aid of the president of HPCC, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala and his father, Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Mr Bhajan Lal said both were senior party leaders and had been given ticket by the party high command.

Asked about the allegations made by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala against leaders, including him, about promoting their own family members, Mr Bhajan Lal said the person who had levelled these allegations had himself promoted his family members. “Right from Devi Lal, the entire Chautala family has been promoting their kin in politics. Even if we have been promoting relatives, it is only in cases where the next of kin have a sound political record, “ he said.