Cong set to fill political posts as polls draw near

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the state Congress has begun the exercise to dole out political appointments to its legislators and senior party leaders.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has reached Delhi to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi tomorrow. It is learnt that the names for appointments of chairmen in boards and corporations, besides other bodies would be announced soon.

Around 10 appointments, including half to the sitting MLAs, are to be cleared after getting a green signal from party’s top leadership. “As the parliamentary elections are approaching fast, chairmen of various election committees, market committees and zila parishad and panchayat samitis are to be appointed. The appointment of district PPCC presidents is also pending,” said a senior leader.

Besides Capt Amarinder, Punjab affairs incharge Asha Kumari and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar are in Delhi. After the meeting with the party president, the state leaders would again hold a meeting.

Before leaving for Delhi, senior officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had held detailed meetings to prepare the groundwork.

A senior Congressman said the party leaders needed to arrive at a consensus over the distribution of posts between MLAs and other leaders. The party president is reportedly keen on adjusting leaders who have worked relentlessly for the party for many years, but were denied ticket in the last Assembly elections. There are nearly 114 positions in boards, corporations and other government bodies that are to be filled from among party leaders.

With 21 months in power, resentment has been brewing among senior leaders due to delay in the appointments even as 13 former bureaucrats, including those who retired long ago, have already been “adjusted”.