Congress fast-tracks party revamp

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has paved the way for an early revamp of the party organisational setup by agreeing to hold a session of All India Congress Committee (AICC) before Diwali.

This means new appointments at the central and state levels of the party would now be completed within a month.

The revamp is long awaited as at least eight Union ministers also shoulder party responsibilities. “A request was made to the Congress president to advance the AICC session and she accepted it,” party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said after a meeting of Congress steering committee (earlier, working committee) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He said Sonia also agreed to set up a committee to review the party constitution.

In normal course, the revamp would have coincided with the Congress plenary session that would now be held before December 20.

The dates and venues for the AICC and plenary sessions have not been fixed, but Mumbai, where Congress celebrated its centenary in 1985, is the frontrunner for the 125th year celebrations as well.

“A decision will be taken after considering all relevant factors,” a party functionary said.

As per the Congress organisation, 12 working committee members are elected by AICC delegates. The president nominates the remaining 12.