Bhopal: None of the Congress local MLAs attended the meeting called at PCC office here to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Even, AICC general secretary Varsha Gayakwad, who was scheduled to chair the meeting, failed to turn up. The meeting was called on Tuesday to take feedback of party leaders on Congress candidate for Bhopal LS seat.
The meeting, conducted by Bhopal LS in-charge Rameshwar Nikhra, saw the participation of district Congress president, district rural president, block presidents, mandlam, ward presidents and others. Three local MLAs, of which two have been made cabinet ministers, were also called, however, none of them turned up at scheduled time. While public relation minister P C Sharma and MLA Arif Masood reached PCC office after the meeting concluded; the minority welfare minister Arif Aqueel never turned up. Arriving late, Masood and Sharma met Nikhra in his room.
At the meeting, Nikhra told party office bearers that they can individually meet him and share their plans for LS elections and probable names for the Bhopal seat. He has asked the party functionaries to come up three possible names for Bhopal LS seat. Earlier, talking to media, Nikhra denied that the meeting was called to discuss the name for the Bhopal LS candidate. The meeting aimed at discussing the ground realities, preparations for polls and also the probable candidates for the elections.
Meanwhile, factionalism within the party carder was also witnessed as supporters of DCC treasurer Govind Goyal raised slogans against party for not inviting him to the meeting. The supports alleged that loyalists of former Union minister Suresh Pachouri attended the meeting even when he had lost the election, but Goyal was never called because of factionalism groupism. He meeting also saw the presence of party candidates Girish Sharma, Harikiran among others, who had lost assembly election.
