Prasada May Be Appointed Cong Working President

Congress president Sitaram Kesri yesterday said he valued the capabilities of UPCC President Jitendra Prasada highly. He also indicated that he may appoint one or more working president of the party, leading to speculation among party leaders that Prasada may become the working president.

Prasada has almost complete control of the UP unit, which sends about 1,200 of the 8,000 or so AICC delegates. Kesri needs the support of the majority of AICC delegates to ensure that his opponents are defeated in the elections for the new Congress Working Committee which are to take place at the first plenary.

Kesri said according to the party constitution the current CWC would now be converted into a steering committee for that plenary. Calcutta was high on the list of places that had been offered as venue, he added.

 

If Prasada stays loyal, Kesri can count on the almost complete support of the delegates from UP, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Bihar is headed by Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is loyal to Kesri, and Tamil Nadu by K Thangkabalu, who worked as junior minister for welfare when Kesri held the cabinet portfolio.

Prasada had been in touch with Sharad Pawars campaign managers a couple of weeks ago and only finally committed the UP delegates support to Kesri a few days before the polling for party president was held last Monday. Kesri could reward him for not having backed Pawar.

He told reporters yesterday that Prasada was 18 years younger than him, was very capable and could shoulder every responsibility.

Asked whether he could appoint a working president, Kesri said he could even appoint two.

Kesri said he would work with all his colleagues to rejuvenate the party but would not commit himself on whether Pawar would continue as the partys floor leader in the Lok Sabha. Amid persistant questioning, he only said that he would do nothing against the interests of Congress unity.

Asked whether he would invite Sonia Gandhi to become a CWC member, Kesri said he had repeatedly invited her and that the Congress had gained strength from the renewal of its links with the Gandhi-Nehru family after she became a primary member

.Kesri announced that he was not a candidate to be the President of India.

Asked what kind of candidate he preferred, he said the party would now apply itself to the question and decide in a few days.

Kesri expresses commitment to Gujral govt

Congress chief Sitaram Kesri yesterday expressed his commitment to the Union government, saying he wanted it to be stable. Some United Front leaders have been apprehensive that he may make a fresh bid to become the Prime Minister after his success in the party elections.

Kesri reiterated that his landslide victory signalled the party cadres endorsement of his withdrawal of support to the H D Deve Gowda government.

e added that he was sure the new government would continue to treat the Congress and its members with respect.