Acting on expected lines, the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC), in its extended meeting of all newly elected delegates, district presidents and top leaders of the State unit on Monday unanimously recommended elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the national party’s top post.
The meeting was the final one ahead of party’s national executive meet scheduled later this month when delegates and leaders from across the country are in all likelihood would be voting for vice president Rahul Gandhi to replace incumbent AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
Besides representatives coming right from block levels, the meeting also saw all top faces of the Congress such as PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat, ClP leader Alamgir Alam, Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Balmuchu, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, several serving and former MlAs present.
“The party, in today’s meeting, unanimously passed two political resolutions. One of the resolutions is for designating Rahul Gandhi as president of AICC. Alamgir Alam presented the resolution which got seconded by Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Balmuchu. All delegates and district party president supported it,” said PCC general secretary Alok Kumar Dubey.
However, the most important resolution passed was relating to election of Congress State president, presently being held by Sukhdeo Bhagat since 2013. “This resolution was also presented by the ClP leader. All the participants in one voice authorised our party national president Sonia Gandhi to name the State president as well as other office bearers for Jharkhand,” added Dubey.
Insiders nonetheless say that the act is just a formality and has followed the set precedent and real race for the post would start now with heavyweights lobbying in Delhi. “As of now all spoke in one voice at the party forum and the meeting was peaceful despite all rival factions present and attending. All the claimants of the PCC post would press hard before the final call is taken,” said an office bearer.
Among others who attended the meeting included in-charge of the party RPN Singh besides, State returning officer Charan Das Mahant who later also addressed the media and hit out at the BJP government.
“The Government is silent over corruption done by the company owned by BJP national president Amit Shah’s son. It seems Jay Shah’s company was temple of wealth. Instead of explaining the charges the dispensation is threatening the media in order to gag the fourth pillar of democracy,” said Singh, adding that the party in the next two days would demonstrate in all district headquarters demanding probe into the case.