Cong coordination panel meet put off
Friday, 28/10/2011
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Even as the Congress high command has postponed the October 31 coordination committee meeting of its Punjab unit at New Delhi as the date coincides with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary, preparations are in full swing for the Punjab Bachao Yatra rallies to be held across the state from November 1.
Speaking to Hindustan Times on the phone, Punjab Congress affairs in-charge Gulchain Singh Charak said the meeting was postponed due to prior engagement of a section of party leaders at the death anniversary function.
“We will announce the fresh date shortly,” he added.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi had convened a meeting of Punjab Congress leaders
on October 24. The party's heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi, had also attended it, making political observers foresee a bigger role for him in the ticket allocation process for the 2012 assembly polls.“Rahul’s no to Punjab Congress leaders’ request to postpone the Punjab Youth Congress elections and his role in granting the party ticket to Youth Congress leaders in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls are clear indicators. He is likely to supervise ticket allocation for the assembly polls also, particularly to youth and women candidates,” observers said.
Insiders said Sonia’s decision to hold a joint meeting of senior party leaders indicated that the Congress was not banking entirely on the leadership of Charak and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Capt Amarinder Singh to win the elections and was keen to involve other senior leaders in electioneering and selection of candidates.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Congress, in a bid to curb indiscipline witnessed in the past during party rallies, is reportedly planning to issue a list of party leaders who would sit and address the gathering in a particular district.
“The state unit, in consultation with district units and local leaders, will prepare a list of such leaders and speakers in advance to check last-minute problems on this count. We will not allow indiscipline at rallies,” a senior Congress leader said.
Charak said the November rallies would expose the “corrupt” SAD-BJP regime.
People of Punjab are fed up with the state government owing to its anti-people policies.
The Congress will oust the corrupt regime from power in these elections,” he said.
Sources said senior party leaders, including MPs, MLAs and former ministers/MLAs from each district, were being consulted for the successful execution of these rallies.
