Unwilling to learn from its past mistakes, the Congre-ss in UP continues to rely on turncoats instead of loyal party workers.
The UPCC president Nirmal Khatri recently released a list of office bearers for disciplinary committee, media committee, public grievance cell and membership committee.
A look at the list of members for these committees clearly indicates that efforts have been made to include all factions and give preference to turncoats. Merit and loyalty have obviously been ignor-ed and preference has been given to recommendation by party stalwarts.
The new appointment also flout the directives of the AICC which clearly state that no organisation post will be given to new entrants unless that complete a three year tenure in the party.
The appointments have also caused considerable heartburn among the veterans and loyal party workers. “This just proves that the Congress has not learnt its lesson yet. Why should we remain loyal to the party if it is the turncoats who walk away with coveted posts and nominations?” questioned a party worker. In the media committee for instance, former minister Virendra Singh has been appointed spokesman. Mr Singh was among those who split the Congress in 1997 to support the Kalyan Singh government. Thereafter he travelled to the BJP and the BSP to finally return ‘home to the Congress. Mr Vinod Bihari Verma, who has been appointed a member of the pubic grievance cell, is one of the best known party hoppers of Uttar Pradesh.
He has had more than one stint in the BJP, BSP and the SP and had joined the Congress barely a few months ago. Mr Rajesh Kashyap, now the conveyor eastern region in the public grievance cell, is another new entrant in the Congress, having come in from the Peace Party. He has been entrusted a major responsibility in the party organisation. Former student leader Bajrang Singh Bajju joined the Congress less than two moths ago and has been appointed member of the public grievance cell.
Mr Neeraj Bora , the newly appointed co-chairman of the public grievance cell — is also a known party hopper and was with the BSP before joining the Congress.
Mr Siraj Mehndi, chairman of the public grievance cell, has also walked in and out of the Congress twice.
The UPCC president has also not hesitated in picking up known detractors of his predecessor Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Mr Maroof Khan and Mr Amarnath Agarwal— both of who publicly criticised Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi in her regime— are now spokesmen of the UP Congress.