Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna: A leader in search of a following

Bahuguna at the convention grounds: A leader in search of a followingThe idea was to declare the entry of another horse into the race and going by initial indications this one was an outsider. But for Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, former Union minister, who has been out in the cold ever since he parted company with Mrs Indira Gandhi early last year, it was his best bet.In Bombay on January 25, after three days of deliberations, the All-India Democratic Socialist Convention formally launched the Democratic Socialist Front with Bahuguna as chairman.Although Bahuguna grandly claimed an attendance of 70,000 delegates, the number was closer to 25,000. Compared to the Bharatiya Janata Party's convention in Bombay in December last - that comparison was inevitable - the convention looked ill-attended as crowds, milled in confusion.Though divided in their interest in their leaders' speeches, the delegates were unanimous over the launching of a new party. Although a small section continued to suggest a merger with Devraj Urs' Congress, the resolution to form a new party was carried out with an overwhelming show of hands.But the Congress (U) factor could hardly be ignored. From the very beginning Bahuguna relied heavily on that party's support. The Congress (U) offices at Bombay's Nariman Point were occupied by Bahuguna's supporters while the convention was being organised.Former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar was asked to step in when the water supply proved inadequate. Moreover, Urs, Pawar, Raghunath Reddy, Congress (U) leader from Kerala, and others were duly invited.Vague Stand: Despite a directive from Urs forbidding his partymen to attend the convention, Reddy was prominent among those present. Rajni Patel, another Congress (U) leader from Bombay, also attended the convention for a few hours on its second day.Pawar, on the other hand, kept away though he did go to the site on Bandra's Reclamation Grounds a day before the convention got underway. While the exact form of the relationship is yet to take shape, it seems certain that there will be a degree of cooperation between the Maharashtra Congress (U) and the newly formed Democratic Socialist Front.The culmination of eight months of nationwide campaigning by Bahuguna, the convention was, nevertheless, curiously bereft of any plans, programmes or discussions on concrete issues.No resolutions, economic or political, were brought up; no party programme was adopted, the steering committee choosing instead to put this off for six months; no manifesto, or even general guidelines were offered to the members of the party.And barring the strong display of brotherhood between the Shahi Imam of Delhi, Sayed Maulana Bukhari, and the new party's chairman, no identification of interests was disclosed to the members. But to Bahuguna who has changed four parties in as many years, these things are, in all likelihood, unimportant.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 30, 2013--- ENDS ---

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Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna: A leader in search of a following

In Bombay on January 25, after three days of deliberations, the All-India Democratic Socialist Convention formally launched the Democratic Socialist Front with Bahuguna as chairman.

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