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REGION: Sonia admits troubles, sees tough times ahead
* Indian leader says Congress should learn from vote setback
* Calls for action against corruption in annual party moot
NEW DELHI: The chief of India’s ruling Congress party urged party leaders on Sunday to rebuild and to remain attentive to voter concerns as it tries to shake off scandals and price rises ahead of critical state elections.
Sonia Gandhi, the party’s president and one of India’s most powerful politicians, acknowledged for the first time publicly that Congress had to ‘candidly address weaknesses’. She told party workers not to be ‘despondent’ as they geared up for the polls. “I am only too aware of how much work we need to do in some states,” Gandhi told the party’s plenary session, the first since 2006. “The recent election in Bihar has demonstrated that there is no alternative to earnestly beginning the process of reviving the party organisation from the grassroots. “The road ahead will be long and arduous but we will persevere and we will succeed.”
Congress sustained heavy losses in Bihar state polls in October-November, coming far behind the winning coalition that has the BJP as a junior partner. A poor showing over the next two years in the key big states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and in Uttar Pradesh, would be seized on by the opposition as a sign of voter discontent ahead of federal elections in 2014 and could further delay reforms.
Congress is a junior partner in coalitions in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and is a minor player in Uttar Pradesh. Allies have proved to be a headache for Congress, blocking reforms and policymaking. Critics say PM Singh was unable to sack his telecoms minister on allegations of corruption because the minister belonged to a key coalition ally.
Gandhi suggested to party officials that the time had come to outgrow dependence on allies. “This is a time for constructive action, including in those states where we are in coalition,” she told the gathering. She also asked Congress governments to heed the party. “Let it not be forgotten that it is the party that has made the government. It is the primary responsibility of those in office to be sensitive to the voices coming from the party organisation and ranks,” she said to wild applause.
The session, on the outskirts of Delhi, was the party’s 83rd since 1885, when Congress was formed. India’s season of scams has included charges $39 billion was lost in revenue due to corruption when lucrative telecoms licences were sold.
Congress leaders have been linked to graft during the Commonwealth Games held earlier this year and in seizing prime property. Andimuthu Raja, the telecoms minister during the licence grants, has resigned, but the BJP has said this is not enough and has threatened to shut down the February session of parliament.
Gandhi called for zero tolerance for corruption, which she described as “a disease spreading through our society”. She defended Singh against opposition allegations he did nothing to prevent corruption and took no action against erring officials. “I want to say something about our prime minister. He is the embodiment of sobriety, dignity and integrity ... The party stands solidly with him,” she said. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\20\story_20-12-2010_pg14_1
* Indian leader says Congress should learn from vote setback
* Calls for action against corruption in annual party moot
NEW DELHI: The chief of India’s ruling Congress party urged party leaders on Sunday to rebuild and to remain attentive to voter concerns as it tries to shake off scandals and price rises ahead of critical state elections.
Sonia Gandhi, the party’s president and one of India’s most powerful politicians, acknowledged for the first time publicly that Congress had to ‘candidly address weaknesses’. She told party workers not to be ‘despondent’ as they geared up for the polls. “I am only too aware of how much work we need to do in some states,” Gandhi told the party’s plenary session, the first since 2006. “The recent election in Bihar has demonstrated that there is no alternative to earnestly beginning the process of reviving the party organisation from the grassroots. “The road ahead will be long and arduous but we will persevere and we will succeed.”
Congress sustained heavy losses in Bihar state polls in October-November, coming far behind the winning coalition that has the BJP as a junior partner. A poor showing over the next two years in the key big states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and in Uttar Pradesh, would be seized on by the opposition as a sign of voter discontent ahead of federal elections in 2014 and could further delay reforms.
Congress is a junior partner in coalitions in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and is a minor player in Uttar Pradesh. Allies have proved to be a headache for Congress, blocking reforms and policymaking. Critics say PM Singh was unable to sack his telecoms minister on allegations of corruption because the minister belonged to a key coalition ally.
Gandhi suggested to party officials that the time had come to outgrow dependence on allies. “This is a time for constructive action, including in those states where we are in coalition,” she told the gathering. She also asked Congress governments to heed the party. “Let it not be forgotten that it is the party that has made the government. It is the primary responsibility of those in office to be sensitive to the voices coming from the party organisation and ranks,” she said to wild applause.
The session, on the outskirts of Delhi, was the party’s 83rd since 1885, when Congress was formed. India’s season of scams has included charges $39 billion was lost in revenue due to corruption when lucrative telecoms licences were sold.
Congress leaders have been linked to graft during the Commonwealth Games held earlier this year and in seizing prime property. Andimuthu Raja, the telecoms minister during the licence grants, has resigned, but the BJP has said this is not enough and has threatened to shut down the February session of parliament.
Gandhi called for zero tolerance for corruption, which she described as “a disease spreading through our society”. She defended Singh against opposition allegations he did nothing to prevent corruption and took no action against erring officials. “I want to say something about our prime minister. He is the embodiment of sobriety, dignity and integrity ... The party stands solidly with him,” she said. reuters
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\20\story_20-12-2010_pg14_1
