Congress scales down powers of PCC chiefs, in-charges

Hyderabad: The new system adopted by the Congress high command to decentralise powers whittles down the importance of PCC presidents and state incharges AICC general secretaries.

AICC secretaries who are incharge of states have been given independence and responsibilities.

AICC president Rahul Gandhi has divided Telangana state into north, south and central zones and appointed an AICC secretary to each of them. Each of the zones comprises about 40 Assembly constituencies.

The zones will have their own working presidents, and the AICC secretaries will be attached to them. These two leaders will have full powers in their zones and the PCC president or AICC general secretary will not be allowed to involve themselves in the In the old system, each state used to have a AICC general secretary incharge, with one or two AICC secretaries to assist. 

Under the new system, the PCC president and incharge AICC general secretary will oversee party affairs at the state level. while the zones are left to the working president and the AICC secretary incharges.

This makes the AICC secretary and working president responsible for zonal affairs, while restricting the powers of PCC presidents and incharge general secretaries.

The AICC secretaries and working presidents have to submit monthly reports to the high command on the activities in their respective zones. Other responsibilities include selection of candidates in the Assembly constituencies in the zone, preparation of list of aspirants and resolving of differences among leaders or groups.

They are expected to stay in regular touch with party leaders and workers till the elections are over. If the high command wants any information about any leader in any zone, they have to send the report. 

No change of guard at TPCC helm

AICC president Rahul Gandhi is concentrating on preparing the state Congress to face the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections and has directed the party unit to be ready to face the polls whenever they are held.

Mr Gandhi held a meeting with AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, senior leader Jairam Ramesh, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, AICC TS incharge R.C. Khuntia and the three newly appointed three secretaries at Delhi on Saturday.

During the meeting that lasted four hours, they discussed various issues including the strategy to be adopted by the TPCC, policy for selection of candidates and winning chances in Telangana.

After the meeting, Mr Khuntia told mediapersons that such meetings would be held again. He said the party had divided TS into three zones with an AICC secretary appointed to each one.

He said the details regarding the appointment of secretaries to the three zones would be announced later. He said that new secretaries would be in Hyderabad on Monday and hold discussions with state and district Congress leaders. The secretaries would have to spend 100 days in their respective zones. 

Mr Khuntia said Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy would continue as TPCC president. Reacting to the resignation of former minister Danam Nagendar Mr Khuntia said, “The Congress vote share will not be affected if Danam Nagendar or some other leader leaves the party.”

He said he did not think that the party would lose if an MLA or an MLC left the Congress. “If any leader wants to leave the party, what can we do,” Mr Khuntia said.

He said the reasons for leaving the party may be business transactions, contracts, cases, transfers and other issues. He said if any Congress leader had any problem, they could bring it to the notice of the TPCC leadership, the AICC or Mr Gandhi. “If they go to the media. severe action will be taken,” Mr Khuntia said.

Mr Reddy said Mr Gandhi had stated in the meeting that in the selection of candidates for the forthcoming elections, the AICC secretary’s word would prevail. About what was transpired at the meeting, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said they had discussed how to face the elections if it is held in December.