Rajasthan civic polls: Congress rift persists

The rift in the ruling Congress over civic polls strategy persists with one minister proposing formation of an alliance on the Bharatpur seat while another minister rejecting it.

Earlier, Minister of State for Technical Education Subhash Garg who belongs to RLD, an alliance partner of Congress from Bharatpur, said, "I have forwarded a proposal to form an alliance on Bharatpur seat for local elections so that the Pradesh Congress Committee and Chief Minister can discuss forming an alliance on the seat. If Congress is really strong, why did it fail to have its own mayor in Bharatpur in the last 15 years", he asked, adding "if an alliance is formed, then Mayor should be from RLD."

His suggestion was, however, rejected by state Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh who said there should be no alliance from Bharatpur. "The Congress will contest the election on its own. I have already had an open discussion with state party chief Sachin Pilot," he said.

The rift in the Congress appeared soon after party ministers went against their own government, with Deputy Chief Minister and state party chief Sachin Pilot speaking against the "hybrid model" launched by the state government for the forthcoming civic polls.

As per the "hybrid model" any citizen can contest the polls for mayor and chairperson of a civic body without first getting elected as a municipal councillor. It allows even a person defeated in the corporator's election to become the head of an urban local body.

Pilot expressed his annoyance at not being consulted on the issue.

Two state state ministers -- Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Ramesh Meena -- also went against the "hybrid model" for civic elections as announced by state UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal.IANS