Rahul rejigs party's northeast committee, Manmohan made patron

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reconstituted the partys North East Coordination Congress Committee (NECCC) with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as its patron.

Manmohan Singh is Rajya Sabha MP from Assam.

Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has been named chairman of reconstituted NECCC and all Congress Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers of the northeastern states will be advisors.

A party release said state Congress unit chiefs, leaders of the legislative party, and present and former MPs from the region's states will be members.

The party General Secretary incharge of the northeastern states and the attached secretary will be special invitees to the NECCC.

The NECCC is expected to increase the Congress outreach in the northeast amid efforts by the BJP to expand its influence in the region ahead of Lok Sabha polls next year.

The BJP has formed North-East Democratic Alliance with an aim to expand its footprint, forge alliances and form governments in all the northeastern states.

--IANS

ps/vd