Congress to bring in major changes in AICC

In a bid to give a new thrust to the organisation after the Lok Sabha elections, Congress would soon bring in major changes in the AICC and is likely to follow the 'one-person-one-post' formula.

The changes will be in tune with party general secretary Rahul Gandhi's focus on building the organisation to remain fit for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

There are indications that the party will follow the 'one-person-one-post' formula to keep the organisation separate from the government.

Party general secretary and media department chief Janardan Dwivedi last week said "changes will be brought in the organisation soon."

He did not reveal how soon it would be done but party leaders said that the changes could be effected after the current session of Parliament which ends on June 9.

Sources maintained that a minor reshuffle in the Union Cabinet is also expected to take place as Meira Kumar has become the Speaker of the Lok Sabha after resigning from the Ministry.

Congress leaders said that streamlining of the organisation, launching of a membership drive and the completion of organisational elections by December next year are among the top priorities of the party.

Four AICC general secretaries were inducted in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. While Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mukul Wasnik were inducted as Cabinet ministers, Prithviraj Chavan was inducted as a Minister of State with independent charge and V Narayanasamy as a Minister of State.

Azad remains the party in-charge of states like Tamil Nadu and Orissa, Wasnik is in-charge of Rajasthan and Delhi, while Chavan remains the party in-charge of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Narayanasamy was in-charge of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh before he went to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

Both Chavan and Narayanasamy held dual positions in the previous regime which was considered a temporary arrangement. They were AICC general secretaries and MoS at the same time.

Defence Minister A K Antony remains the in-charge of the crucial state of Maharashtra where the party is in alliance with NCP. Similarly, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was made president of the West Bengal PCC last year and still holds his position both in the party and the government.

Party sources maintained that all efforts will be made to stick to the 'one person one post' formula. If it is adopted, then all ministers could be divested of their party work.

Tags: Elections