Congress cracks whip on ‘non-performers’

Despite initial objections by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, a huge Uttar Pradesh Congress Executive Committee, comprising over 400 office-bearers, was cleared in a reshuffle earlier in January this year.

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In the ongoing review, AICC Secretary, Prakash Joshi, is asking district presidents, vice-presidents and general secretary in-charge of the respective districts about the field visits conducted by them so far. The information given by the leader is cross-checked in the meeting by the other concerned district.

While Joshi has already conducted reviews of Devipatan, Faizabad and Lucknow divisions, he would be conducting that of Bareilly on Thursday.

“The idea is to set accountability and bring uniformity. Since there were some issues concerning co-ordination between NSUI and Youth Congress, district units have been asked to include one office-bearer who can act as a link between the main unit and the respective frontal organisation,” said Joshi, who conducted a review meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Asked about the action against “non-performers”, Joshi said: “There would be similar performance review of the district once every three months and district presidents have been told that about 15-20 per cent of the lowest performers would be changed after review.”

Office-bearers have also been told that at least five block-level visits every month is compulsory and that they have to invite party leaders — former MLAs, MPs, Union ministers, apart from the 21-member block committee — for block-level meetings.

The other three AICC secretaries are likely to start the review meetings in their respective regions soon.