NEW DELHI, June 18 � Proposing proactive measures, the Assam Congress has urged the AICC to take urgent steps to end the political crisis in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which has taken a toll on the Congress party in the State.
This view was conveyed to AK Anthony by PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, when the latter called on him today to discuss the situation in the party.
Kalita confirmed his meeting with Anthony, saying that it was part of the consultation process initiated by the AICC to end the crisis in the CLP.
According to sources, Anthony, who was present at the meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, along with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has also been roped in to handle Assam�s crisis. Kalita, who has been asked to stay put in the national capital, yesterday called on political adviser to Congress president Ahmed Patel.
AICC sources said Kalita has conveyed to it that the political infighting in the CLP has had an adverse impact on the Congress� performance in the Lok Sabha election in the State. The Congress party managed to win only three seats, down from seven it had won in 2009.
The fact that the infighting between the Chief Minister and the rebels had an adverse impact on the party in the elections cannot be denied, Kalita reportedly told Anthony.
The PCC chief has opined that the crisis has continued long enough and the AICC should now take proactive steps to end it without further delay.
If the internal rumblings in the CLP are allowed to continue, the possibility of the party�s image being hurt further, cannot be ruled out, Anthony was reportedly told, said sources.
The division in the CLP has impacted the image of the party, Kalita was quoted as having said.
Kalita reportedly suggested that reconciliation between the two groups was the best possible way to tackle the situation.
Former Defence Minister Anthony, who is a member of the AICC�s Disciplinary Action Committee, reportedly suggested that the PCC also get itself involved and try to broker peace in the party.
When asked, Kalita said that the PCC is already involved with the reconciliation process and has initiated dialogue with some of the senior members belonging to the dissident group.
It was also further opined that there was a need for the disgruntled MLAs also to reconcile among themselves, as several leaders among the rebels are nursing ministerial ambitions. First, the rebels have to sit and reconcile their position, sources said.
Sources said resolution of the crisis might involve reshuffle of the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister, who held a high level meeting with the Congress president on Monday, has lobbed the ball into the AICC�s court, stating that their decision would be acceptable to him. The rebels have also said that whatever the AICC decides would be positively received.
