Although the dissidents do not propose to make it an issue at this stage, one of their leaders indicated that this time the party workers will be fully alert to make formal complaints about bogus membership enrolment and attempts at rigging. Such moves, if made with official connivance, will be exposed, they vowed.
Asked if the Election Commission had powers to take action if organisational elections of a recognised political party were manipulated, a former Union minister said the matter would have to be studied. For the time being, the dissidents will watch the developments and bring facts to the notice of all concerned.
The dissidents concede that as things stand the official group could get enough delegates elected to ensure the safe return of Rao as president. This is due to the official group's control over the Pradesh Congress Committees.
The dissidents had never tried to organise a parallel setup in the PCCs or the District Congress Committees (DCCs) as part of their fight against one-man control at the Centre.
Instead, they had confined their struggle for justice to an individual. They claim that this was done in the best interests of maintaining the party's integrity.
