‘Reinstate all sacked block presidents’

BHOPAL: In what is being seen as an embarrassment for the state Congress, the AICC has reinstated about 100 block-level presidents and other office-bearers, who were removed from office by the state leadership last month. These office-bearers were removed by PCC chief Arun Yadav because they were found inactive during the Congress party’s membership drive undertaken in the months of April and till May 15.
New appointments were also made to replace the ousted block presidents and other office-bearers. Many MLAs were also found not having done enough to increase the party’s membership in the state. Complaints of MLAs were also forwarded to the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

However, an instruction has come from 24, Akbar Road signed by PM Mullapally Ramachandran, who is chairman of the party’s Central Election Authority (CEA). The letter said, “It was reported that some PCCs (Pradesh Congress Committees) have changed the DCCs/BCCs (District Congress Committee/ Block Congress Committee) during ongoing election process. The CEA is of the opinion that PCCs are not allowed to do this while the election process is on.”
The letter also asked to “take note” of the error and “act accordingly” to complete organisational elections.

Congress party’s organisational elections are scheduled for August, September and likely to end on October this year. The Election Commission has set the organisation elections deadline for the Congress in December 2017. Membership drive was resumed because of the organisational elections.
Finding the PCC and its president Arun Yadav in an awkward situation, state Congress organisational general secretary Chandrika Prasad Dwivedi said, “Block Congress president appointments were done in a transparent manner and with the approval of the high command. Those who were inactive were removed and active party workers given their place.”