Lovely’s blame-game triggers back-lash

Six out of seven MPs failed to appear during the Congress meeting with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung over the issue of water and power crisis in Delhi on Monday. 

This seems to be an after-effect of Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely’s comments on senior leaders being responsible for their humiliating defeat. Only one former MP, Ramesh Kumar of South Delhi, accompanied Lovely for the meeting with Jung.

The party had circulated the press invite for Monday’s programme with the LG to all former MPs. However, asked about the absence of six of them, a senior party leader said: ‘They were invited but it seems they were busy somewhere else. There is no factionalism in the party.’

On Sunday, criticising those who are targeting Rahul Gandhi for Congress’ electoral debacle, Lovely said those who enjoyed power are now trying to indulge in a blame game. 

However, on Monday, Lovely denied saying anything against former party MPs. 

‘All I spoke about was collective responsibility for party’s defeat in the city. I never targeted any individual. My statement was wrongly interpreted. I had invited every former MP to join the party’s delegation,’ he told reporters outside LG’s residence. After the incident, Lovely has become the second PCC chief to face factionalism in the party. Former PCC chief J P Agarwal was also not in good terms with the then chief minister Sheila Dikshit.