Congress leaders fight over birth anniv of first Bihar CM

The continuing rift within the Congress re-surfaced yet again in Bihar on Friday. And in the focus of the dispute is the 125th birth anniversary celebration of first Bihar chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh, slated for Saturday.

Apparently ignoring the advice of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, Rahul Gandhi to shed internal differences, Congress leaders in the state have proposed parallel functions- one at the Sadaquat Ashram (headquarter of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee) and another at the SK Memorial Hall, to celebrate the occasion.

While BPCC chief, Chaudhary Mehbool Ali Kaiser claimed the official function of the party would be held at Sadaquat Ashram, another senior leader and former Union minister Akhilesh Singh, held a press conference to announce the details of the programme being organized at SK memorial hall on the same date and at the same time.

Interestingly, both Kaiser and Singh have claimed, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi would attend the inaugural function of their programmes.

To buttress his claim, Singh displayed Dwivedi’s confirmation letter before mediamen. State party leaders are keenly watching the turn of events, but refusing to comment.

“Let us see what shape the tussle between the two senior leaders take in due course,” said another senior AICC leader, even as Bihar party in-charge, Gulchain Singh Charak did not speak on the issue.

Sources in the party said, Akhilesh Singh had taken the initiative first and got Dwivedi’s nod for his participation at the celebration, while the BPCC woke up quite late.

They, however, said Singh violated the set rules of the party by ignoring the authority of the BPCC president and the in-charge for his campaign to bolster his claim to be the next state party chief.