In a statement, which could draw curtains over the ambitions of over enthusiast party leaders who are enjoying positions in organisation as well as in Government, Congress general secretary in-charge of Himachal, Ambika Soni made it clear on Monday that one person cannot hold duel posts in organisation as well as in Government.
“We have a clear cut stand on the issue which is in accordance with the vision of our national vice president Rahul Gandhi that one person can hold only one position, whether it’s in organisation or in Government,” Soni who was on her maiden visit to the State after being given charge of general secretary in-charge of party for Himachal Pradesh. Soni was accompanied by Jharkhand MlA and co-in-charge of the State, Geetashree Oraon. Soni said that she herself had left ministerial post to serve the organisation like Oraon who turned down ministerial post in Jharkhand in recently formed JMM-Congress-RJD coalition Government in the State.
“Party leadership will give a choice to such leaders to either choose from Government post or organisation post and subsequently a decision in this regard will be taken in consultation with senior leadership,” she said.
Congress general secretary’s statement holds importance as the newly constituted Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has more than dozen leaders holding party positions in different capacities but are also serving in different Government posts like cabinet minister, chairmen or vice-chairmen of boards and corporation.
If party takes action on Soni’s statement then it will be a major setback for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, as most of his loyalists will have to either sacrifice the organisation post or Government post where they were recently appointed.
Recently Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Rakesh Kalia had also resigned from the post citing the same reason of holding the organisation post rather than Government post. PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that he has received some recommendation from Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for inclusion of some names of leaders in the PCC. “The names will be considered based on merit,” said Sukhu.
Congress party on Monday held a general house for party leaders, which Ambika Soni presided and asked the leaders to work for strengthening the party right from Panchayat level to state level and counter the propaganda of BJP, both on social networking site and in masses. Party leaders were also asked to create awareness among the masses on ‘game changer’ National Food Security Ordinance (NFSO) which will be tabled in parliament this monsoon session. “like MNREGA, NFSO is also needed to be taken to the public and party leaders should highlight it,” said Soni.