Led by the Pradesh Congress chief, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the partymen held a function at Ghasera, about 50 km from Gurgaon to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and embarked upon a membership drive. However, the absence of senior leaders like Bhajan Lal, Birender Singh and Khurshid Ahmed from it showed that serious differences and a division in the party continue to exist. In fact, Hooda was stumped when asked about the absence of the district Congress president, Khurshid Ahmed. Later, the PCC chief took pains to explain that he was busy making preparations for his son's wedding.

The sleepy village of Ghasera is considered the gateway to the Mewat region and has a historical significance. Mahatma Gandhi had visited the Meo-dominated village during the Partition days in 1947 and had urged the Meos not to go to Pakistan.

Today's function had been organised by a Meo leader, Zakir Hussain, who is the son of senior Congressman Tayyab Hussain. The fact that Khurshid Ahmed remained absent from today's function has lot to do with Tayyab's participation in it. Both Tayyab and Khurshid are known arch-rivals in the Meo politics.

Pradesh party chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced that the Mewat region will be made a separate district when the Congress comes to power. Hooda said: ``This is a new Congress under the leadership of Soniaji. There was a leadership crisis for some time in the party but the organisation has been going strength to strength''.

MP Rao Inderjit Singh said that they want to establish a rapport between the leaders and the workers which is essential for the unity of the Congress.