Gujarat: Cong observer list shows Gehlot effect

AHMEDABAD:  Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress has appointed observers to 26 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state, fielding 37 leaders from across the country, with Rajasthan getting the maximum participation.

Party leaders from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh have become the observers, a status that the party gives to its trusted leaders. Of the 37 observers, 23 are from Rajasthan, including 13 ministers and 10 MLAs, as per the party’s notification on Wednesday.

These observers will submit their reports to the All India Congress Committee after interacting with leaders in 182 Assemblies. Since Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have Congress governments, observers from these states may be in a better position to offer suggestions to the Gujarat unit.

However, all the Rajasthan observers are said to be close to CM Ashok Gehlot, who has earlier been in charge of Gujarat. Meanwhile, factionalism within the party is getting worse. The leadership is upset over Congress leaders wearing saffron scarves, and also with the performance of state Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma as many leaders and have joined BJP. Over the last few days, the party has apparently held meetings in Delhi where national-level leaders have interacted with the state team.