In a decision seems to be taken at the eleventh hour, Congress on Tuesday announced names of 72 out of 131 district and city level presidents on Tuesday. So far the all the district level units are lying head-less following the decision to dissolve the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee as well as district level committees soon after facing humiliating defeat in last Parliament elections.
Interestingly, the decision even now to appoint district and city presidents has been taken due to on-going by-polls in the State. However, in many places like in lucknow, the name of city Congress president has been not announced only to ensure that infighting within the Party should not galore particularly when election for lucknow (east) seat is underway.
Besides, this is for the first time that State President, Nirmal Khatri, had not much share in deciding the district level units and the entire exercise has been made by four secretaries of the All India Congress Committee, who submitted their findings to general secretary, Madhusudan Mistri, who is also incharge of Party affairs here in UP. Sources said that the stature of Khatri has been reduced to a `dummy’ as this is first time in the history of Congress that Central team selected district level presidents.
``Khatri stature has been reduced to a dummy and he had not much say in the State Congress now”, claimed a senior Congress leader who added that Khatri was continuing as state president just as Mistri, who is still close to Rahul Gandhi, find him as best suited leader in UP who act at his whims. However, once the high command turned serious towards this biggest state, Khatri would be removed and replaced by some president, who would be more active and spare time for smooth functioning of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.
It may be mentioned here that Khatri hardly spared any time for UPCC during last Parliament elections resulting into worst ever results for the Party. Not, only this, he would be the first president of State Congress, who either remained in New Delhi or in Faizabad, from where he lost the last Parliament elections. Recently, after facing criticism on his absence from UPCC, Khatri went on record in a press conference and said that now he would be present at UPCC on every Friday and Saturdayto attend every one. However, even after that, he could not find time to fulfill his promise and just remained here for few weeks.