<p>The first day of the Assembly poll here brought in embarrassment for the Congress, as rift between two senior party leaders came to the fore.<br /><br /></p>.<p>State union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday called P L Punia, Congress MP from Barabanki, an “outsider,” adding that Punia had “no business being here.”<br /><br />Punia however made light of the remark and said Verma was a senior leader of the party. <br /><br />He added that the party high command has not canvassed any candidate as a chief ministerial candidate in case Congress registers a victory. The two leaders never enjoyed a good relationship since Punia was appointed chairman of the National Scheduled Caste Commission after his impressive win from the Dalit-dominated Barabanki constituency in the 2009 general election.<br /><br />Incidentally, Barabanki is Verma’s home district. Verma is an MP from the neighbouring Gonda district.<br /><br />The leaders are reportedly at war over Verma recommending candidates for poll tickets.<br /></p>
<p>The first day of the Assembly poll here brought in embarrassment for the Congress, as rift between two senior party leaders came to the fore.<br /><br /></p>.<p>State union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday called P L Punia, Congress MP from Barabanki, an “outsider,” adding that Punia had “no business being here.”<br /><br />Punia however made light of the remark and said Verma was a senior leader of the party. <br /><br />He added that the party high command has not canvassed any candidate as a chief ministerial candidate in case Congress registers a victory. The two leaders never enjoyed a good relationship since Punia was appointed chairman of the National Scheduled Caste Commission after his impressive win from the Dalit-dominated Barabanki constituency in the 2009 general election.<br /><br />Incidentally, Barabanki is Verma’s home district. Verma is an MP from the neighbouring Gonda district.<br /><br />The leaders are reportedly at war over Verma recommending candidates for poll tickets.<br /></p>
