Cong rejig begins: 5 states get new chiefs, no word on Punjab

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2

The process of organisational reshuffle in the Congress started today with new presidents being appointed in five state units — Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana.

A decision on the Punjab Congress is under process with sources saying the party wanted to tread cautiously in the state.

Among new appointees are leaders who carry the burden of taint but have not been proven guilty in courts. J&K’s new party president GA Mir was embroiled in the Valley’s infamous sex scandal, though the party today defended his appointment as chief of the state unit saying he had been acquitted. Mir has replaced Saifuddin Soz.

In Maharashtra, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has replaced Manikrao Thakre, who had resigned after the party’s dismal performance in the state elections. Chavan, facing a court case for alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing Scam, hasn’t been proven guilty yet.

Defending the elevation of both leaders, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: “While Mir was acquitted, Chavan was not found guilty, though he is facing a case. When an FIR was registered against him, he was the Maharashtra CM and following the highest traditions of transparency, he resigned. But today, he is not the CM nor is there a Congress government in the state. So, nothing is being compromised. Chavan is a party leader and in that capacity he has been named as the Maharashtra head.” Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked Chavan to resign as the Maharashtra CM after he was booked in the Adrash scam. Since then, the Congress has been on

electoral decline in Maharashtra and elsewhere. A party leader said: “We removed our sitting CM to ensure transparency but were still attacked for corruption.” The party’s Delhi unit will be headed by Ajay Maken, party general secretary in charge of communications, who replaced Arvinder Lovely. Maken, who headed the Congress campaign committee in Delhi, is considered close to party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, whose stamp, seniors said, was evident on today’s changes. Telangana also got a new chief in Uttam Reddy today and he will be assisted by a working president, the state being new.

In Gujarat, Rahul's stamp was clearly visible as former minister Bharatsinh Solanki was brought in to replace Arjun Modhwadia, considered close to Sonia's political secretary Ahmed Patel. 

Punjab under discussion

Senior leaders said discussions were on and a decision would soon be taken on reshuffle in the party’s Punjab unit.

Former minister Lal Singh figures in the list of probables who would head the state unit with news that the Punjab Congress Legislature Party may also be reorganised. If that happens, incumbent CLP leader Sunil Jahkar will have to be adjusted in some position.