Impressive turnout for Cong. rally

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, AUG. 19.

The impressive turnout at the ``Dalit Chunauti Rally'' at Sultanpuri here today gave a clear indication of which was the wind was blowing as far as city politics is concerned. The praise showered on the Delhi Government and its policies by the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, should cheer up the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, no end and haunt her rivals.

At the same time, the rally also brought laurels for the DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra who, along with Ms. Dikshit has been able to put up an united front recently much to the discomfort of their rivals. In addition, the rally has also helped former MLA, Mr. Jaikishen to emerge as a Dalit leader in his own right. This does not augur well for the other leaders of Outer Delhi, including the former MP, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, who has reportedly fallen out with Mr. Jaikishen.

Mr. Jaikishen, convenor of the rally, at no point of time referred to Mr. Sajjan Kumar, his mentor, indicating that the wedge had increased sharply. Many MLAs opposed to Mr. Jaikishen failed to turn up and those conspicuous by their absence included the Mangolpuri MLA, Mr. Raj Kumar Chauhan, another SC MLA, Mr. Roop Chand, Mr. Mahinder Yadav, Mr. Kamal Yadav, Mr. Sishpal and Mr. Tek Chand Sharma.

Many of these MLAs had indicated that they would not mobilise crowds for the rally. In fact, once again the crowd from East Delhi outnumbered that from Outer Delhi showing the declining participation from the once strong bastion of the Congress(I).

For once, the crowds looked genuine and enthusiastic. During the presence of Ms. Gandhi on the stage and later while she spoke for 16 minutes, they clapped and cheered every time she lashed out at the BJP-led Government at the Centre.

But for the efforts by Ms.Dikshit and Mr. Chopra in organising the rally, the situation would have been totally different and the occasion could have turned out to be a big embarrassment for the party. Strong resentment had prevailed among the MLAs over the attitude of Mr. Jaikishen in holding the Dalit Rally. The MLAs were up in arms against the former MLA alleging that Mr. Jaikishen was trying to take over the leadership of the Dalits, SCs and STs, which was unacceptable to them. However, the intervention by Ms. Dikshit and Mr. Chopra ensured a massive turnout which seemed to have impressed Ms. Gandhi also.

Significantly, in her speech, Ms. Gandhi singled out the Delhi Government for special praise. She congratulated the Government for initiating various schemes for the welfare of the Dalits, SCs and STs and taking steps for their upliftment. Ms. Gandhi said that an SC/ST Commission had been established by the Delhi Government and a safai karamchari welfare commission was in the offing. Stating that her party was much concerned about the rural areas she said that a Rural Development Board would be soon put in place.

This should come as sweet music to the Chief Minister, who despite, not being able to make it to the rally, came in for praise. This should give her further strength to set fresh agenda for the development of various sectors. Her rivals were left sulking in face of the special references by Ms. Gandhi. Although dissidence within the Delhi Congress had almost vanished, Ms. Gandhi's speech should set to rest any misgivings on the leadership front.

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