MUMBAI, DEC 30: Aware that party work had been given a go-by for far too long, MPCC president Govindrao Adik has directed Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, members of his cabinet and other party leaders, to devote themselves to organisational matters. As a first step, he has asked them to meet party workers at the grassroots' level in order to redress their grievances.In a departure from tradition, Adik has written a letter to Deshmukh and all Congress Cabinet members of the Democratic Front (DF) Government asking them to spare at least one day in a month for organisational work. Though Adik declined to divulge the contents of the letter, apparently, he has expressed displeasure over the failure of a section of the Cabinet members in engaging themselves in organisational activities.After he took over the state Congress reigns, Adik found that by and large, the Cabinet members had ignored organisational work and the party workers, which had generated considerable discontent among the party activists.Contrary to expectations, Deshmukh has conceded to the MPCC chief's request. Consequently, the Chief Minister will be available to party-workers for an entire day on January 5 at Gandhi Bhavan near Mantralaya.``Our plan has been accepted by the Chief Minister. Besides Deshmukh, from January 1, at least one Cabinet member will be present every day at the party office for the entire day to redress the grievances of party workers,'' Adik said, adding, whenever, he would be in the metropolis, he too would make it a point to meet party workers.Secondly, Adik has asked the Cabinet members to visit the party offices during their visit to district and tehsil headquarters. Instead of meeting the party workers at Government guest-houses, they should meet them at the party office. ``I have requested the Congress Cabinet members to ensure that they visit the party office to know for themselves the problems faced by the workers at the grassroots' level,'' Adik added.Thirdly, Adik has requested the Cabinet members and other party leaders not to accept garlands or bouquets in view of the severe drought in some parts of the state. Instead, the amount should be donated to the Drought Relief or the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Adik himself would embark on a fortnight's tour from January 9 to the drought-affected areas.Meanwhile, the MPCC today authorised party president Sonia Gandhi to nominate the members on the Congress Working Committee (CWC) as well as the Central Election Committee (CEC).At a meeting of the AICC members from Maharashtra, the resolution, moved by MPCC President Govindrao Adik, was seconded by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. ``We unanimously passed the resolution and authorised Sonia Gandhi to nominate the members on the CWC and CEC,'' Adik said.
