Cong asks state units to prepare for polls

Getting the party ready for electoral battles ahead, the Congress has asked all its state units to set up coordination panels to ensure unity among the leadership.

The missive from the AICC reached the state units last week with the direction that the committees should be in place within a month after due consultation with the central leadership. AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Janardan Dwivedi has also asked the 14 states where the party is in power to put in place manifesto implementation committees which would ensure effective communication on the delivery of promises made during the elections.

While the PCC chief will be the convener of the six-member coordination committee, the general secretary in charge of a particular state will chair the manifesto implementation committee. One CLP leader, AICC Secretary in-charge, and one senior state leader would be among the members of the coordination panel.

In several states like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and  Maharashtra, the party is beset with groupism which does not augur well when general election is not far away.

In Karnataka, the demand for a coordination committee gained momentum after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced several populist schemes immediately after taking oath and even before the formation of the ministry.

Similarly, the party is split into factions in Madhya Pradesh where several leaders like Digvijay Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kamal Nath, Suresh Pachouri and Kantilal Bhuria are not on the same page.

The manifesto implementation committee will be chaired by AICC General Secretary in-charge and PCC president, CLP leader, AICC Secretary in-charge, one senior state leader, one minister and two leaders from the Centre to be nominated by the Congress president would be members.