The state Congress launched its 'Parivartan Yatra' from the tribal-dominated Shahdol district on May 1. Reports reaching here said that partymen belonging to all factions joined the yatra, which was inaugurated by the state party chief Kantilal Bhuria.

The yatra will continue, in phases, up to the Vidhan Sabha elections, scheduled in the state in November this year. The inaugural function of the yatra was also addressed by the leader of opposition Ajay Singh.

During his visit to the state (April 24-25), Rahul Gandhi's first interaction with his partymen took place in Mohankheda in Dhar district. Mohankheda is a Jain Pilgrimage centre. Most of the Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, called on a Jain Muni to seek his blessings. This evoked an adverse reaction in some Congress leaders. 'This is the state of affairs in a party which claims to be secular', they said.

The Congress workers who were invited to participate in the interactive session with Rahul Gandhi were chosen from the 29 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State. Representatives of 15 constituencies attended the Mohankheda conclave while representatives from 14 constituencies participated in the session held at Bhopal.

In order to ensure that the grassroots Congress workers express their view frankly, Rahul Gandhi asked all the state Congress satraps to keep away from the meetings. Those who were asked to stay out included AICC general secretary and former chief minister Digvijay Singh, Union Minster of State Jyotiraditya Scindia, PCC Chief Kantilal Bhuria, leader of the opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Ajay Singh and Suresh Pachauri, former PCC chief. Union Minister Kamal Nath, another important leader from Madhya Pradesh, did not come for the conclave because of his preoccupations in New Delhi. The decision to keep top leaders out did facilitate frank expression of opinion by the party workers. These are some of the instances of frank, if somewhat bitter opinions expressed by party workers.

Delegates from Sagar and Damoh constituencies were the first to meet Congress Vice-president. Sharda Khatik set the tone for a frank and perhaps, fruitful interaction referring to her rival Manisha Dubey, who had lost the previous assembly election as the Congress candidate. She said 'I have won Janpad Panchayat elections thrice. I have also been Sarpanch. But as I have no political Godfather so I was denied ticket and the party lost.' Manisha Dubey, wearing a blue silken sari, tried to explain her position but Rahul Gandhi was not convinced. 'You got the ticket because you could influence decisions at Delhi and she couldn't do it,' he said and wondered why Delhi should decide ticket of a Sagar constituency.

Former municipality president from Sehore Rukmini Rohila was frank enough to ask the Congress vice-president what he had done for the empowerment of women and replied on her own — ‘nothing.’ 'How many women have so far been nominated the district Congress committee (DCC) presidents in the state? Ask the leaders who decide things on your behalf. They all nominate their stooges to the post,' she said. Rahul Gandhi, who had been listening to her calmly, said after she ceased to speak, 'No, it will not happen now.'

Veteran leader from Hoshangabad Hazarilal Raghuvanshi told Rahul Gandhi how he was made the Home Minister in the 1980s at the behest of Indira Gandhi. He also spoke about his involvement with the party through the thick and the thin for more than 50 years and how he felt disappointed at the state of affairs of the party now. Raghuvanshi, who was removed from the post of party's state disciplinary committee following his statements against state Congress chief Kantilal Bhuria, urged Rahul Gandhi to bring all the factional leaders together to make the party's victory in the state possible.

District Congress Committee (DCC) vice-president from Satna, Ramkrishan Mishra, in a personal attack on Digvijay Singh said that he should be kept away from electioneering. 'People in general and government servants in particular dislike him. As he is getting active once again now people fear that he would be chief minister again. Therefore, he should be kept away from electioneering,' he argued as Rahul listened to him quietly.

While grassroots workers were speaking against factionalism, outside the venue of the meeting, both at Mohankheda and Bhopal, slogans were being raised lauding the qualities of Jyotiraditya Scandia and asking the party high command to project him as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Obviously, it was very embarrassing for Scandia himself.

After listening to the candid views of party workers, Rahul Gandhi spelt out some important guidelines keeping in view the forthcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

Rahul gave a clear warning to senior leaders of Madhya Pradesh either to get united or face the music. He suggested three major steps for strengthening the party and ensuring formation of Congress government in the state.

'It will be a long-term loss for senior leaders if they do not unite and the party faces debacle in the next polls.' I am working on a new system in the party and it will take one or two years to come into effect. But here in Madhya Pradesh, we will have to take three steps as polls are near. First, senior leaders will have to come together on one platform, whether they like it or not. Secondly, tickets will have to be announced early, that is, in July (Elections are due in November) and thirdly, in the process of selection of nominees, we will have to involve DCCs, BCCs and senior leaders' Rahul said. .'Candidates should be decided while sitting in a big hall and not in a garden.' he further said.

After listening to his 'sermon' a senior woman leader from a small town warned Rahul Gandhi that unless he acts tough, the senior leaders will sabotage his dreams.

The two-day exercise was limited to brainstorming on how to grab power. No issue pertaining to policy matters came up for discussion.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's visit to Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that he was totally ineffective. BJP general secretary Ram Lal while taking to media persons in Indore said BJP is stronger than ever in MP and sure to retain power. (IPA Service)