Congress in crisis as 400 party workers resign ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: With only days left for the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress in Rajasthan has suffered a major setback as around 400 party workers in the state have resigned from primary membership. The reason for the party's current crisis is its alliance with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress' decision to field RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal as a candidate from Nagaur had sparked protests within the party ranks. The problems started when Beniwal complained to senior leaders that the Congress leaders were campaigning for the BJP candidate in the constituency, Jyoti Mirdha. Based on this complaint, the party suspended some Congress workers for six years.

Later, leaders including former MLA Bhararam, Kuchera Municipality Chairperson Tejpal Mirdha and Sukharam Dodwadiya protested against this decision by resigning their party membership.

Tejpal Mirdha said in a press conference that the Congress was strong in the Nagaur assembly elections.

"Congress won four out of eight seats. Even in Lok Sabha polls, its position was equally strong. Despite this, why was the alliance formed with the RLP."

"Hanuman Beniwal is a tool who is trying to destroy the Congress in Nagaur. Congress workers have been deeply shocked with the formation of alliance with such a person. That's why we all are giving our collective resignation letter," he added.

"Congress high command formed an alliance with RLP without the consent of the local Congress state unit. This alliance has been imposed on us. RLP had worked to defeat Congress in the entire district. We never shared the stage with BJP. Still, Beniwal expelled us from the party. The Congress, without any information or showcause notice, directly issued a Tughlaqi decree and expelled us," he said.

"Now Congress is no longer the same party which it used to be in the past. Here one person is running the party according to his own wish and will. It is important that this message reaches the Congress high command that the party is destroying itself in Rajasthan. Recently, Beniwal in one of his campaigns has said that Congress has five to seven such party workers who are campaigning for the BJP in the guise of Congressmen. Such people should be thrown out," he said.

"I have been telling the same thing to District Congress President Zakir Hussain and Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa," he added.