The Congress unit in Uttar Pradesh, like those in other states, is supposed to prepare and send a report as sought by party president Sonia Gandhi —- after seeking feedback from grassroot level workers —- for revival of the party.
However, the party is facing a strange dilemma with leaders in-charge of coordinating things busy elsewhere or not having enough manpower to get work done.
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Sample this: PCC chief Nirmal Khatri is without a state committee for past five months while three out of four AICC secretaries in-charge of the UP are busy elsewhere at present. Apart from this, at least 10 district and city units, including Lucknow city, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Kannauj and Mainpuri, have no presidents for past five months.
In absence of the state executive committee, three out of four AICC secretaries in-charge have been given charge of about 16-18 districts each to tour in state and get the feedback. The task, however, is a tough one with one of them, Naseeb Singh, having been given ticket to contest Delhi Assembly elections, is now stationed in Vishwas Nagar area from where he has been an MLA in the past. It will not be possible for him to leave his constituency till polls are over.
Meanwhile, sources inform that another AICC secretary Zubair Khan is busy with the election of his wife Shafia Zubair in Rajasthan, where she is contesting panchayat polls. She has reportedly been zila panchayat chairman of Alwar district and is contesting against this time.
The third secretary, in-charge of the state, Prakash Joshi has been made part of the committee set up to select candidates for Delhi elections and he too will not be free till the process is over.
On the other hand, party had declared new district and city presidents in the month of August but either due to infighting or difficulty in finding the “right” candidates, about 10 units are yet to get their new heads.
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The case of Rae Bareli and Amethi are to be decided by party high command or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In other districts, including Lucknow city, party is yet to make up its mind on picking up a Kayastha, Brahmin or a Muslim face. For Lucknow, some leaders have suggested the name of Subodh Srivastava, who is regarded close to former state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Congress CLP leader Pradeep Mathur. Some others are backing candidature of Maroof Khan.
Sitapur district is facing a rather difficult scenario as the person, who was selected by the party to head the district has withdrawn his name. It has been over five months but party has failed to find a replacement. Sources inform that senior leaders like Ammar Rizvi, Jitin Prasada and Harish Bajpai have their stakes in the district and are reportedly batting for their respective candidates.
In Yadav stronghold areas such as Mainpuri and Kannauj, party does not have any presidents. Jalaun and Unnao are also facing similar problem.
Asked about the present scenario, state president Nirmal Khatri said, “Everything has been given final shape and all these issues will be resolved soon. State committee and remaining district heads would be announced at the same time”.
Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.
Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More
