Though the Congress high command is yet to formally announce the name of the next chief of the Punjab State Mahila Congress, the reported move to appoint Jalandhar Congress leader Kittu Grewal to the post has not gone down well with many local senior Mahila Congress leaders as they have threatened to tender their resignations.
Grewal has not been an active Congress office-bearer. During the 2012 assembly polls, after the party had denied her ticket from Adampur, she contested as a rebel and polled only 429 votes.
Following this, she was expelled from the party for six years.
“What credentials do Grewal have for the prestigious post? She is not even a primary member of the party and has been expelled. Someone has misguided the party high command. Her announcement, which is now a formality, will be a disastrous step,” said Mahila Congress senior vice-president Harsimranjeet Kaur, along with other senior Mahila Congress officials, while addressing mediapersons here on Monday. Sources said the announcement was likely to be made in a day or two.
“By appointing Grewal, the party is making a mockery of the system. Where is the party’s internal democratic system? We appeal to the high command to reconsider her appointment,” said Kusum Sharma, state general secretary of the Mahila Congress. Incumbent president Malti Thapar, said Grewal’s appointment had been finalised and she had got the letter.
{{/usCountry}}“By appointing Grewal, the party is making a mockery of the system. Where is the party’s internal democratic system? We appeal to the high command to reconsider her appointment,” said Kusum Sharma, state general secretary of the Mahila Congress. Incumbent president Malti Thapar, said Grewal’s appointment had been finalised and she had got the letter.
{{/usCountry}}Thapar said, “The party high command has appointed Grewal after taking into consideration all aspects. No doubt she had contested as Independent from Adampur, but around a year ago, she was appointed head of the minority cell in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.”
Mahila Congress national chief Shobha Oza refused to comment. State Congress chief Partap Bajwa was not available for comment.