Congress in MP now 'united' - Hindustan Times
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Congress in MP now 'united'

Hindustan Times | ByAshutosh Shukla, Bhopal
May 30, 2013 01:20 PM IST

Madhya Pradesh state Congress leaders are describing the expansion of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) undertaken on Tuesday as the completion of the reconciliation process among various factions of the party. Ashutosh Shukla reports.

Madhya Pradesh state Congress leaders are describing the expansion of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) undertaken on Tuesday as the completion of the reconciliation process among various factions of the party and hoping that following this exercise, all the top central leaders of the party would come on a common platform with the intention of bringing the party back to power.

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All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Digvijaya Singh, parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath, Union minister of state for energy Jyotiraditya Scindia, former PCC chief Suresh Pachouri and several other prominent state Congress leaders are likely to share stage at the PCC on June 1 when the reconstituted PCC meets for the first time.

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It will be followed by a co-ordination committee meeting of the party. The 16-member coordination committee comprises top leaders of the party and was formed with the objective to bring cohesion in the functioning of the party. It has failed to meet the objective so far.

The committee is said to have met in Delhi on some occasions but never was it attended by all the members. If it meets on June 1 at Bhopal as the indications are, it would be the committee's first meeting in the state capital.

As the urgency to work for the party's victory in the state assembly elections in November 2013 is catching up, the state leaders, too, appear to have decided to downplay their disagreement on issues concerning the party and not create 'unnecessary' problems for the leadership. The scene at the PCC on Wednesday, a day after the PCC executive body was reconstituted, clearly indicated this change of attitude.

Manak Agrawal, who was divested of the charge of media cell in-charge, was supposed to provide some ammunition to the reporters but was found distributing sweets to who-so-ever visited his room including the media.

When asked whether he was happy, he said, "I had myself expressed the desire to be shifted from media cell. I want to concentrate more on my constituency. If I continue holding this responsibility, it would become very difficult."

His colleagues in the PCC, however, said Manak was not happy at the change but was giving excuses not to give the media a chance to raise the issue of bickering in the party.

It was again Manak, who said, "The media had been asking for four-and-a-half-years why Congress leaders don't come on a common platform. They will be together at the PCC on June 1. Now, we are together and will fight the elections unitedly."

PCC treasurer Govind Goyal, who was shifted as general secretary, should also have been a little depressed at the change of portfolio but the PCC office-bearers said he was laughing and sharing jokes at being 'promoted'.

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