Gong leadership questioned in UP by-poll debacle

Gong leadership questioned in UP by-poll debacle

HUMILIATING defeat of the Congress in the Assembly by-polls in Uttar Pradesh has once again raised questions on the ability of the party leadership. The Congress candidates not just lost their deposits in nine of the 11 Assembly constituencies but in Bijnorc and Rohania. the party candidates came fourth.

Bahujan Samaj Party was not contesting the polls. Interestingly, even now senior leaders like Party's All India General Secretary. Madhusudan Mistri. who is also incharge of the Party affairs here in UP refused to except the defeat and came in defence of UP Congress president Nirmal Khairi. saying that they had not got enough time to prepare for the by-polls.

But former Union Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Beni Prasad Verma. was not hesitant to except the defeat and atlrib uted it to selection of non-serious candidates and lack of proper connect with the masses. "Except for one or two candidates who took the elections seriously and fought with true spirit. all the others lacked confidence and they just filed the nomination papers and did nothing to show that they could also win the electioas." asserted Verma said on Thursday. He said. "it is better that the Party should give tickets in selected constituencies and contest it with full strength, then only the results could he different and a positive message should be al.so passed on to the public."

"The need of the hour for revival of the Party depends on a leader who has acceptance in all the caste and religion and il is only possible if the leader had a charismatic personality," claimed former Union Minister without going into further details. Congress' vote percentage in the by-poll has come down drastically in comparison with last Assembly elections held in 2012. In Bijnore Assembly seat, where kinol'Congress leader in the Legislative Council. Naseeb Palhan contested this election, he got just 1.26 per cent of votes than to 22.67 percent which Congress alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal got in last Assembly elections.

Similarly, in Rohania Assembly seat. Congress candidate. Dr Bhawna Patel got just 1.72 per cent of total voces this lime in comparison Io9.52 per cent in 2012. In Nighasan, Congress got just 3.38 per cent of votes than to 8 per cent which they got last time. In Thakurdwara (Moradabail). Congress gel 7.48 per cent votes in comparison to 21.12 per cent they got last time.

Posted in: News 2014