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Regular-article-logo Wednesday, 30 April 2025

BLANK CHEQUE FOR 'INDIRA II' 

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FROM RASHEED KIDWAI Published 14.11.00, 12:00 AM
New Delhi, Nov. 14 :    New Delhi, Nov. 14:  In anticipation of a landslide victory for Sonia Gandhi in tomorrow's counting of votes, all states barring Uttar Pradesh have authorised 'Indira II' to pick new PCC chiefs. The West Bengal unit is the first to have already 'elected' Pranab Mukherjee as its president for the next three years. Hectic preparations are on for a grand celebration. About 25,000 party workers, state ministers and functionaries have rushed to Delhi to felicitate 'Madame'. Bulk orders have been placed with the city's top halwais and florists. Bandwallas, florists, and even jesters, who will keep the crowd amused, have all been directed to be present outside 24 Akbar Road to add to the festivities. For once, AICC treasurer Motilal Vora was in a generous mood. When AICC functionaries approached him for 'chai-pani' expenses, Vora smiled and said: 'All yours. How much do you want?' In contrast, Prasada's house wore a deserted look. Apart from a peacock strutting about on the lawns of 11 A Motilal Nehru Marg the familiar political hangers-on were missing. The massive shamiana that had come up during election time had been removed. Prasada plans to call on Sonia tomorrow. The move is aimed at projecting that all is well in the Congress parivar. Sonia has already taken a lead in papering over bitterness and ruling out any disciplinary action against the challenger. This has disappointed many party leaders who wanted to wipe out Prasada politically. While Sonia's victory appears to be a foregone conclusion, the focus has shifted on the margin of defeat. If Prasada manages to get more than five per cent of the votes, the dissidents will be satisfied. A rebel leader said: 'Do not go by the numbers. See the circumstances in which the party polls were conducted. It was an unequal battle from the very beginning.'    
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