Sonia accused of creating 'Christian coterie', sparks Congressmen's ire
George Iypein New Delhi
Resentment is brewing in the Congress as a section of leaders charge Sonia Gandhi with cultivating a coterie of Christian leaders in the party.
Some Congress leaders allege that ever since the Italy-born Sonia took over the party leadership four months ago, she has packed her official residence at 10, Janpath and the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road with a host of minority party leaders, especially Christians.
The Congress leaders who are often present at 10, Janpath include former Union minister Margaret Alva, former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma, party general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Congress Working Committee member A K Antony and the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Professor P J Kurien.
''We do not know whether it is a deliberate attempt from Sonia to induct pro-Christian leaders to key posts in the party. But we feel she is very sympathetic to Christian and Muslim leaders in the Congress than Hindus,'' an All India Congress Committee secretary alleged in a conversation to Rediff On The NeT.
Soon after the general election this year, Sonia set up a task force to revamp the party. The task force was headed by Sangma, a tribal Christian from Meghalaya who recently warned the Bharatiya Janata Party against any move to undertake mass conversions into Hinduism in the North-East.
While Sonia is now axing and appointing state Congress presidents as per Sangma's recommendations, the Congress president's office at 24, Akbar Road is headed by Alva, a Christian leader from Karnataka.
Then there are CWC members Fernandes and Antony, said to be Sonia's blue-eyed boys who are deployed as and when revolts, resentment and opposition come up in the party on various issues.
''For strategic political advice and action, Sonia depends too much on
persons like Fernandes and Antony. Senior CWC members like Jitendra Prasada and Pranab Mukherjee are now never invited to 10, Janpath for political counsel,'' alleged one party official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Though Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar is the party's Lok Sabha leader in Parliament, insiders say chief whip Kurien apprises Sonia on the happenings in the House and discusses strategy for the MPs.
Another Christian leader who wields much clout in Sonia's inner circle is the party's chief spokesperson, Ajit Jogi, a tribal leader from Madhya Pradesh.
But Kurien says the allegations are ''malicious and incorrect. We were in the party before Soniaji took over as party president. It is nonsensical to suggest that we cannot work with Soniaji just because we are Christians.''
''Soniaji is one person who hates discriminating between various party leaders on the basis of their caste and religion. She does not see us as Christians, Hindus or Muslims,'' emphasises the Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
Many party leaders also point out that Sonia's omnipotent private secretary Vincent George, who operates from 10, Janpath, has begun meddling in party affairs.
George, who has been with the Gandhi family for 14 years, was recently given a room at the AICC office to assist Sonia whenever she attends office.
Congress sources claim George keeps a tab on senior leaders and party matters at 24, Akbar Road through his emissaries Tomy Thomas and Tom Vadakkan who are members of the party's newspaper Newswatch.
Newswatch, headed by Sonia confidante and Mahila Congress general secretary Archana Dalmia, compiles news concerning the Congress and other political parties appearing in various newspapers across the country in book form and submits it to the party president by 1400 hours every day.
Party insiders say many Congress leaders eye Thomas and Vadakkan with misgiving because they are seen to be the link between 10, Janpath and 24, Akbar Road, keeping an eye on who is meeting whom in the party offices.
The elevation of Salman Khursheed, who has lost the last two general elections, as Uttar Pradesh Congress chief has also not gone down well with some party leaders.
Many believe Sonia's strategy to bank on Christian and
Muslim leaders in the party may be an attempt to woo the minorities.
''But I feel Sonia's minority politics lacks credibility. It is high time she did something to target the BJP's upper caste and backward vote banks across the country,'' a senior Congress leader told Rediff On The NeT.
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