Polls ahead: To win state, Cong decides to go local
IN THE WORKS Party asks blocks presidents to identify five major local issues to be included in manifesto
The whole idea is to strengthen the party organisation at the ground level. Our party wants to give focus in the manifesto to local issues, which are long pending and need attention.
VIVEK BANSAL, AICC secretary
:The Rajasthan Congress has asked its block presidents to identify five major issues in their areas for inclusion in the manifesto to be drafted for the assembly elections due by the yearend, party leaders said.
The party has created a post of ‘sangthan mahamantri’ (organisation general secretary) who will coordinate with district- and block-level leaders to strengthen the organisation.
“The whole idea is to strengthen the party organisation at the ground level. Our party wants to give focus in the manifesto to local issues, which are long pending and need attention,” AICC secretary Vivek Bansal said.
“The new post has been created for multitasking. The person appointed will act as a facilitator and coordinator between ex-MLAs, MLAs and others.”
A senior party leader said on the condition of anonymity that the new post was created either to prevent friction between office-bearers regarding responsibilities or avoid appointment of working presidents like in Madhya Pradesh.
The Congress’s state leadership has informed the recently appointed 400 block presidents about prominent people, such as social workers and community heads, in their areas. The block presidents have been directed to build relations with the prominent people.
The party’s district committees have been asked to monitor the functioning of block panels. The block chiefs have been told to constitute village units with a president, vice-president, general secretary and a secretary. The block and district committees have been directed to organise ‘Mera Booth Mera Gaurav’ programmes as scheduled, party leaders said.
The party is constituting districtand assembly-level coordination committees, comprising AICC and Pradesh Congress Committee in-charge secretaries, present and former district presidents, MPs, MLAs, women wing chiefs, Sewa Dal convenors, and Youth Congress and NSUI presidents.
JAIPUR
After the Karnataka poll results, Congress on Thursday held a protest outside district collector office alleging murder of democracy by the BJP and “fiddling with Constitution” to retain power. Addressing the workers, state party president Sachin Pilot alleged that BJP in Karnataka wants to form government at the cost of democracy and by trading MLAs in a dictatorial manner.
He said that the party has insulted the Indian Constitution and the central government has misused its power. “The BJP has insulted people’s mandate in Karnataka. Their only aim seems to be in power. They can even fiddle with the Constitution to be in power,” Pilot alleged.
He said that setting aside all legalities, efforts are being made to buy MLAs which goes against the interest of democracy. After coalition of JDS and Congress, it is their right to form the government. “The Congress will to strike back. The party will hold demonstrations and sit-in protests and will not tolerate murder of democracy,” he said.
Jaipur district Congress chief, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that the central government, through Karnataka, wants to create an atmosphere of conflict.
HTC AND PTI
JAIPUR: