'Defeat Cong' campaign creates rift in Team Anna

Many members of Team Anna believe singling out Congress would strengthen the view that the civil society activists are indirectly helping the BJP gain crucial grounds in the polls.

Opposition to the campaign has been muted since it has Anna Hazare’s endorsement. None of the detractors within Team Anna seemed to be convinced by Arvind Kejriwal’s statement distancing the movement from BJP and the RSS.

Despite portraying the Hisar by-polls as a referendum on Jan Lokpal Bill, Bhushan, who had taken strong stance in rights issues and communalism in the past, has distanced himself from the campaign as it took an distinctly anti-Congress tone.

Bhushan also wanted to use the campaign to highlight his opposition to the proposed nuclear plant at Hisar.

“He is busy in court proceedings on 2G scam, so he is not in a position to visit Hisar”, says spokesperson of India Against Corruption Ashwathi Murlidharan.

Without Bhushan and a few other heavyweights, the ‘Defeat Congress’ campaign features just three leaders from Team Anna -- Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia—with Sisodia being the most active of them.

Other anti-graft activists like Medha Patkar are also keeping them away from the Hisar campaign. “ I think, the campaign has lost its direction. There was no need of naming a party. Parties like BJP do not have any clean record as far as corruption is concerned. Communalism is also a big issue, “said a prominent member of the anti-graft campaign.