PATNA: Internal conflict within the Bihar Congress unit has escalated after all the 43 leaders, who were served with show-cause notices by the disciplinary committee last week for their ‘anti-party activities, submitted their responses, dismissing the charges.

The group, described as rebels, accused the state leadership of acting arbitrarily and ignoring organisational procedures. The members of the group held discussions among themselves ahead of sending their responses to the notices.

Hitting out at the state leadership, the rebels said notices were served on them without a disciplinary inquiry and clearance from national leadership. As per rules, central leaderships’ approval is mandatory in such cases, they said.

Accusing state president Rajesh Kumar of running the organisation through unilateral decisions and sidelining internal dialogue, the rebels said he did not pay heed to complaints made from workers at district and block levels.

They alleged that lack of dialogue among workers has weakened the party’s structure at grassroots, which reflected in the assembly polls. “The state leaders are puppets in the hands of RSS-BJP,” they claimed. The leaders said any harsh action against them would further cause loss to the party after the poll debacle. “The central leadership should focus on resolving issues within party,” they said.