NEW DELHI: Scarred by the Haryana debacle, Congress now is focusing on the “rebel factor” in the ensuing Maharashtra polls.
Sources said the appointment of senior leaders as observers in each region of the state is for the primary objective of controlling disappointed ticket aspirants from turning rebels, and persuade them to stay loyal with the promise of future accommodation.The party managers appointed as observers will be given the specific brief to focus on reining in members who may want to challenge the official party nominees.
While Congress appoints special observers in every election, those named for Maharashtra are known members with vast experience and also a robust social profile. Besides, two or three observers have been appointed for each of the five regions – like Ashok Gehlot and Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara for Mumbai/Konkan region, former CMs Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Singh Channi, and leader of opposition in MP Umang Singhar for Vidarbha, Sachin Pilot and senior Telangana minister Uttam Reddy for Marathwada, among others. The party has also appointed AICC office-bearers with local roots – Mukul Wasnik and Avinash Pande – as senior coordinators.
A Congress manager said the “concern” about rebels is compounded by the fact that ticket aspirants who lose out in the final decision, are easy targets for rivals, who provoke them and even sponsor them into taking the plunge to damage Congress.
Much to its woes, Congress found that rebels damaged the prospects of official candidates in key constituencies in Haryana. Thus, the party is paying special attention to this part of micro-management after the shock defeat, as it moves to the crucial contest in Maharashtra. The senior observers, because of their profile and proximity to the leadership, would have the political weight to make promises to rebellious leaders to convince them to drop the ante.