There are  indications that they would continue to hold both positions for the time being, contrary to the AICC’s avowed policy of “one man one post”.

While, Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi has been appointed as the West Bengal PCC chief, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Personnel Suresh Pachauri and Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz have been appointed as PCC chiefs in  Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir respectively.

The developments came amidst indications that eventhough there might be a reshuffle in the union cabinet in the near future, the three might continue to hold their ministerial positions at least for the time being. However, Mr Dasmunsi might be divested of the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, something he too reportedly is in favour of. AICC leaders refused to comment on the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of the latest appointments, preferring to take recourse to the expected comment that it was a matter to be decided by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“Whether to make someone a minister or to give someone additional responsibility while continuing with one’s present duties is a decision that is the prerogative of the Congress president and the prime minister. As a party worker, I am ready to do whatever is the instruction of the leadership,” Mr Dasmunsi said after his appointment.
AICC general secretary V Narayanswamy, who is in charge of the party affairs in MP, also echoed the same line. The three leaders would be the only Union ministers to also concurrently serve as PCC chiefs at present.

Party sources, while indicating that the three would continue to hold dual positions for now, gave the examples of several other union ministers who are holding senior party positions or handling important party affairs, such as Prithviraj Chavan, Ajay Maken, Oscar Fernandes, Jairam Ramesh and Anand Sharma.

In an apparent effort to placate veteran leader Arjun Singh in the light of the appointment of Mr Pachauri as the MP PCC chief, Ajay Singh has been appointed as the in-charge of campaign committee in the election-going state.