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'The Congress leadership is not scared of polls'

November 11, 2000. There was a flurry of questions for the Congress spokesperson, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, on the state of the Congress, India's oldest political party, which is witnessing an election for the post of party president. Challenging the incumbent, Sonia Gandhi, who hails from the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, is the parvenu from Uttar Pradesh, Jitendra Prasada. The battlelines were drawn in the Chat room also where Mr Chavan battled gamely!

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:21 IST)
Hello friends, I am here and ready to take your questions, You can shoot.

arya (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:21 IST)
Mr chauhan why is mr. prasada's entry looked upon by fear by sonia loyalist

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:26 IST)
Arya - I don't know why you feel that the Congress leadership is afraid of facing the election. This is not the first time that election for Congress President is taking place. It just confirms the existence of internal democracy in the Congress party. Tell me which other party has such open and democratic elections.

anvar (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:22 IST)
Hello, Mr Chavan, Why is the Cong election officer Mirdha behaving in such a partisan manner? Is this fair elections or a farce elections?

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:30 IST)
Anvar - The Congress President for the first time in the party's history, Sonia Gandhi has created an office of the Congress Election Authority. Senior leader like Shri Mirdha has been appointed. He is conducting the election in completely fair and transparent manner. But you will appreciate that conducting elections with nearly three crore electors is a gigantic administrative excercise. There are some complaints.They are being looked into by the election authority in an impartial manner. The election will be by secret ballot.

rama (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:29 IST)
How do u explain the unruly spectacle of ur partymen bashing each other while prasada was filing his nomination. Is that inner party democracy as well?

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:32 IST)
Rama - There were some ugly incidents when Shri Prasada's nomination was being filed. Some people were provoked when the Congress President's posters and placards were torn. There was a scuffle in the heat of the moment. This certainly cannot be condoned. But it was certainly not pre-planned or part of any intimidation tactics.

hemant (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:32 IST)
why is ur party so obsessed by the gandhi family. Agreed that this family has contributed a lot to india but dont you think ur party is going a lot overboard. It seems as if Sonia is congress and Congress is Sonia

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:39 IST)
Hemant - There is no question of any obssession with any individual. Congress party had legally and democratically elected Shrimati Sonia Gandhi as Congress President. She had never asked for it. Party leaders including Shri Jitendra Prasada were in the forefront to invite Shrimati Sonia Gandhi to lead the party. She has indeed revitalised the party. Victory in state assembly elections and the recent panchayat elections gave a clear indication of the Congress resurgence. We did not do well in the Lok Sabha elections because of the sudden revolt in the party on the eve of elections. Shrimati Sonia Gandhi will be once again re-elected by a thumping majority.

karans (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:37 IST)
What is so special about SoniaG that all Congress men lick her shoes. Surely some of you guys seem to have ZERO respect. People who have been in Congress much before her deserve better treatment. Just because shes a Nehru family person, why treat her like some Goddess.

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:42 IST)
Karans - You don't seem to have faith in a democratic process. She is not annointed by somebody like they do in the BJP. I repeat once again that she was elected democratically by ordinary Congress workers and will be again. And that does not mean any disrespect to any senior Congressmen.

ravi (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:42 IST)
why is congress leaders behaving as though something bad is happening looking at mr.prasada's opting to contest the election. people like arjun singh who have been languishing coming in and going out of congress talking about the congress culture are nurtured. this does not augur well for the party. your views please

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:48 IST)
Ravi - Democratic elections for the post of Congress President and and for all other offices in the party are provided for in the party Constitution. Elections have taken place earlier and it is not a bad thing. It rejuvenates the party and nobody is threatened by it. Provided of course the campaign does not sink to personal levels and provided there is no slanging match and character assassination. You can rest assured that Shrimati Sonia gandhi will conduct herself in a very dignified manner.

Satyha (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:48 IST)
Why can't a person challenge another leader. There shud be healthy competition. What had sonia has done to the party,as a opposition leader?

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:57 IST)
Satyha - As I have said earlier, there is nothing wrong in an election to the party post.Let the 9000 elected Congress delegates choose the best leader. Sonia Gandhi as the leader of Opposition had promised that Congress will be a responsible and constructive Opposition party. We have raised many issues concerning the common man and led demonstrations whenever we feel the government is pursuing anti-people and anti-poor policies be it price hike, attack on minorities, shift in foreign policy. We are forcing the government to enact progressive legislation in favour of women, backward classes and minorities.

Real Indian (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 5:56 IST)
chavanji
Do u know sonia is giving much priority to her community take example of Jogi; how jogi is compared with SHUKLA or motilal vohra.she giving priority to the christians more like Jogi, rajasekara reddy, A K Antony, alva, oskar fernandes, what is u r response in this manner.

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:1 IST)
Real Indian - The Congress Legislative Party wanted a tribal leader from the state to be the first chief minister of the new state. Among the tribal leaders, Jogi is very well qualified, has tremendous administrative experience in the state and also as a parliamentarian and office-bearer of the Congress party. he was elected by 41 out of 48 legislators democratically. religion has nothing to do with it. The names of the leaders you mentioned have been leaders in their own right long before Sonia gandhi enetered active politics.

Mahendra (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:1 IST)
Mr. Chavan, from congress statements it seems like lots of congress people are threatening Mr. Prasada for contesting against a foreigner?? Why does one have to support this kind of autocracy???? I'm sure you are a man and congress part itself has lot's of men with guts, not one who merely produces children, because even dogs and other animals also produces babies. Any comments

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:3 IST)
mahenmdra - There is no question of threatening Shri Prasada. I don't think even he has made the allegation.

NAGARJUN (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:3 IST)
Sir, Is their any hope you will see in such a big party for fare and structured election ever going to happen

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:7 IST)
Nagarjun - The Congress party elections, which are mandated both by the party Constitution and the Chief Election Commissioner. It is a huge excercise. Shrimati Sonia gandhi had promised free and fair elections. And, therefore, she has created an independent election authority. Of all the political parties in India, Congress elections are most fair and transparent. They may not be comparable to US and Germany but we are getting there. We are certainly a lot better than the RSS.

hitesh (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:7 IST)
MR.CHAVAN...IN 1972 WAR WITH PAKISTAN...HOW RAJIV GANDHI HAVE GOT LEAVE....SOME ONE SAYS BYE INDERA GANDHI ...BEACAUSE SHE WAS PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA....IS IT TURE??

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:8 IST)
Hitesh - Your question is not clear.

vreddy (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:5 IST)
Prasad can't make any allegation against her if so after elections to the party leadership Congress party may thrown him out? what is your comment

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:11 IST)
V. Reddy - Even Pilot and Pawar contested against Mr Kesri, he did not throw them out for contesting the election. Party elections are a family affair and nobody threatens or throws people out of the party for disagreeing or contesting elections.

vary (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:11 IST)
and i also want to know why is there so much talking abt a guy standing against sonia gandhi everybody has right to do it

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:12 IST)
vary - Yes, I agree with you.

uday Sathe (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:10 IST)
Dear Mr,Chavan, Sonia is critising the economic policies the foundation of which was laid by Congress (Dr.Manmohan Singh), the present leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha, merely because it is continued by present NDA Govt, headed by BJP. What respect she has for PV Narsimha Rao, easily the Best Premier India had since Independence. She refuses to take clear stand on India's N-clear policy. She is anything but a good leader. Earlier, Congress gets rid of her, the better it is for Congress & Nation.

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:19 IST)
Uday Sathe - It was the Congress party which ushered in liberal economic policies in 1991. We certainly are not turning back. The policies led to much higher growth rates of over seven per cent. But we have genuine concern whether the burden of globalisation is affecting the poorer sections, whether the incraesed wealth is being eqitably distrbuted ? Whether poverty ratios are coming down or not.If poverty is not getting reduced rapidly, then maybe some fine tuning of the economic policies would be needed.maybe the state has to intervene more vigourously in empowering the poor.We haven't abundant liberalisation but we are certainly evaluating its effects on the poor.

varun (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:17 IST)
and i guess theres some reports that bihar unit is not allowed to contest whys that, is it true, if it is why

Sunil (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:23 IST)
Mr Chavan, Mr. Narsinh Rao tenure is probably the most successful tenure. He improved economy. Improved situation in Assam, Panjab and Kashmir. Still congress leaders are not showing due respect to him. Whereas Sonia is getting undue respect even though she has not shown any achievement yet. Why it is so ?

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:25 IST)
Sunil - We all agree that Congress government under narasimha rao has many achievements to its credit - economy, Punjab, Kashmir, foreign policy etc. But after his conviction after due process of law, there is very little that the Congress party can do. After all, you have to believe in the supremacy of the judiciary and respect for the rule of law.

lakshmi (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:21 IST)
Sir, Why is that you have not chosen to answer any questions doubting the ability of Srimathi. Sonia gandhi as a able leader?

Mr Prithviraj Chavan (Fri Nov 11, 2000, 6:29 IST)
Lakshmi - There is little you can perform as a Opposition leader. You can perform in government when you are in power. But as far as rejuvenating the party, see the recent election results. She has inducted many younger leaders into important positions. These young chief ministers are rulign in many states effectively. Of course, we continue to be weak in some northen states like UP, Bihar and tamil nadu but we are working on it.

Thankyou folks, it was nice chatting to you, maybe I will be back to answer your questions again. Goodnight.

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