After meeting with rebels, Congress begins reshuffle in 4 states
What's the story
The Indian National Congress party has started reshuffling leaders, beginning with organizational leadership changes in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. The development comes a day after the Congress party held a meeting with rebel leaders on Saturday. Earlier in August, the 23 dissidents, now called G-23, had called for "full time and effective leadership" within the party. Here are more details.
Changes
3 AICC secretaries appointed for Assam, Kerala each
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed three All-India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries each for Assam and Kerala, where Assembly elections are due next year, NDTV reported. The secretaries will assist the General Secretaries in-charge of the two states: Assam's Jitendra Singh and Kerala's Tariq Anwar. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and state party President Kamal Nath holds the CLP leader's post.
Changes
Congress also made changes in Mumbai Regional Congress Committee
The party has also made changes in the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. Maharashtra Congress President Balasaheb Thorat is also the leader of the Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party. Notably, thus far, Telangana Congress President Uttam Kumar Reddy and Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda have resigned over the party's poor performance in the Hyderabad local polls and Gujarat by-polls respectively.
Meeting
Yesterday, Gandhis met rebel Congress leaders
Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met the G-23 Saturday in a series of meetings to be held over the coming days. The top leadership had agreed to hold organizational elections, with the Working Committee making the final call. Rahul Gandhi said he is "ready to work for the party as all desire," indicating his possible return as party chief.
Background
Support dwindles for Congress party; rebels seek change in leadership
The Congress leadership has been flailing ever since it faced an embarrassing defeat in last year's general elections. Taking responsibility, Rahul Gandhi had resigned as party chief, only to have Sonia Gandhi take over in August last year. As the Congress suffered many election defeats and the party's support dwindled, a group of 23 senior leaders wrote a letter demanding full-time, active leadership.