Leaders' `extra-party' outfits a source of worry for Congress- NCP

Social outfits floated by top leaders have become a cause for concern for Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and a source of resentment for the party workers who feel marginalised.

NCP has the highest number of such independent, `extra-party' outfits controlled by influential leaders.

PWD minister and NCP heavyweight Chhagan Bhujbal controls the `Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad'. NCP vice president Vinayak Mete heads `Shiv Sangram' which has taken up the cause of reservations for Maratha community.

Rajya Sabha MP Govindrao Adik has his `Krushak Samaj', public undertakings minister Jaidutt Kshirsagar runs `Teli Parishad', water supply minister Laxman Dhobale controls `Rayat Mahasangh'. State NCP president Madhukar Pichad controls `Adivasi Vikas Parishad'.

Uttam Gaikwad, an NCP activist from Mumbai told Press Trust of India that parallel outfits of senior leaders exist at the cost of ordinary party workers.

"Instead of working for the party, which has made them what they are today, the leaders are busy furthering their own interests. They have their own supporters, who get prominence in the party hierarchy," he said adding that party workers who are not a part of such outfits get sidelined.

Gaikwad wondered why such leaders should be given party posts. "Because of them, the party gets weakened."

Gaikwad said his appeals that such outfits should be disbanded have fell on deaf ears within NCP. "Who do we complain to? All the top leaders to whom I wrote have their own outfits. They must have thrown my letters into dustbin."

NCP spokesperson Madan Bafna admitted that such outfits were a cause of worry. "The issue was raised with (party president) Sharad Pawar a few years ago, and he had said that such outfits should be wound up. However, nothing happened. We can only see to it that such organisations do not undercut the party's interests," he said.

Congress, too, is grappling with the problem. Party MLC Hussain Dalwai heads the `Maulana Azad Vichar Manch', while industries minister Narayan Rane's son Nitesh controls Swabhimaan, a Mumbai-centric NGO which has launched several agitations on civic issues.

Maharashtra pradesh Congress committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre's directive that leaders should not run parallel outfits is obeyed only in breach. Talking to PTI, Dalwai said, "There is nothing wrong in party leaders having separate community-based outfits. They are meant to highlight the depressed voices on the party forum. I feel such outfits should supplement ideals of one's party and should not be seen as parallel organisations."

Speaking about his own organisation, Dalwai said it works to bring Muslims closer to the Congress.

"We create awareness about the decisions taken by the government which benefit Muslims, such as the Sachar committee and PM's 15-point programme for upliftment of minorities," he said.

Other Congress leaders too have their own organisations. Former minister Chandrakant Handore runs `Bhim Shakti', while MP Eknath Gaikwad controls `Rayat Mahasangh' and Datta Meghe heads `Vidarbha Vikas Parishad'.

Talking to PTI, Nitesh Rane said that his outfit, Swabhiman, does not contest elections and eat into anybody's vote-bank. "Why should our presence worry any one? We raise issues concerning the common man, like water. It was only after our campaign that the civic body woke up to the fact that water mafia exist in Mumbai," Nitesh said.

According to him, Mumbai municipal elections have so far been fought on issues like Marathi agenda. "Sena-BJP are in power for 18 years and they ruined the city. They did not bother about  core problems like infrastructure and basic amenities."

"We will take a call on our political stand a little before the civic elections next year," he added.