Irrespective of gloom all across, the membership drive continuing in Jharkhand Congress is said to have yielded some good results for it. The process started last year in order to spread party bases in the State ended on Monday.
As per reports from the party office bearers, over four lakh new members have joined the Congress which is a good number considering the situation. “We have ended the drive on May 15 as per the schedule. Willing members made beeline till late in the evening but we followed the guidelines very strictly. As per preliminary figures little over four lakh new members have been made,” said Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Alok Kumar Dubey.
The step holds importance since the party has announced its entire time line for internal elections. This suggests that the entire process would complete in five phases. A meeting in the leadership of JPCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat has been called on Tuesday to dedicate tasks to the members ahead of the party elections.
“With the membership drive ending on May 15, the party would publish final list of legitimate members on August 7.
Formal election process would commence on August 7 with election of president and executives of primary committee at booth level. It would be followed by district level elections. Between September 16 and October 15 elections of PCC presidents, national vice presidents along with AICC president would take place,” added Dubey who is also in-charge of membership drive for the State by the Congress party.
With this, murmurs have also started for the coveted post of the JPCC chief, held by lohardaga MlA Sukhdeo Bhagat. Insiders in the party suggest that the Congress may look for any new face taking into account future polls.
“He has been holding the post for nearly five years. His performance is also a mixed bag where number of MlAs of the party came down but he also managed to win some crucial polls in between including of his own. Though the present PCC has ample supporters but a strong faction is also lobbying against him,” said an office bearer.
When asked about the fate of Bhagat and his continuation as party president, a senior leader said that most likely it would be left to the high command.
“Since any open election is not likely in this situation as there are many factions working in the party. Finally, it would go in the favour of the person who lobbies better in Delhi,” said he.