Making more women members of Cong priority, says Santosh

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 5

Newly elected Uttarakhand president of the All India Sonia Gandhi Brigade Dr Santosh Chauhan has expressed hope that women activists will play a vital role in ensuring success of the Congress in the Assembly elections in 2017.

Santosh stated this on the sidelines of a felicitation function organised by senior women party leaders here yesterday.

She emphasised on the need to induct more women workers into the party and said the All India Sonia Gandhi Brigade would carry out regular interactions with the brigade office-bearers so that the maximum possible number of women could be made members of the party.

“My main priority is to strengthen the All India Sonia Gandhi Brigade as that would eventually boost the main party wing in the state. Under leadership of Chief Minister Harish Rawat, former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, senior Cabinet ministers Indira Hridayesh, Yashpal Arya and Dr Harak Singh Rawat among others, the party will surely retain power in Uttarakhand,” said Santosh, former chairperson of the Uttarakhand Women’s Commission.

On the delay in Ardh Kumbh fund allocation by the Centre, Santosh, who was recently appointed vice president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, said politics should not come in the way of development works or such a mega event of national and global importance.

She demanded instant allocation and release of a budget for the Ardh Kumbh fair scheduled for 2016. She said, “Just eight months are left for the fair, which draws millions of devotees, pilgrims and foreign tourists to Uttarakhand. During Maha Kumbh 2010, the Congress-led UPA government had allocated Rs 600-odd crore for the mega fair, despite the BJP government being in power in the state. Successful completion and management of the Ardh Kumbh fair should be a priority, but it seems the BJP is trying to gain political mileage.”

Working president of women’s Congress Kiran Singh praised the four-decade political career of Santosh Chauhan and said she had been the face of women’s Congress in the state. Senior district leaders Braham Swarup Brahmachari, OP Chauhan, Ambrish Kumar, Satpal Brahmachari and Poonam Bhagat also expressed happiness at Santosh’s appointment as the state president of the All India Sonia Gandhi Brigade.