Mirdha quits as chief of Cong election body

Congress leader and its central election authority chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha put in his papers today, making way for the appointment of Osca...

Congress leader and its central election authority chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha put in his papers today, making way for the appointment of Oscar Fernandes, a staunch Sonia Gandhi loyalist. Mirdha, party sources said, had a meeting with Sonia today. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who announced Mirdha’s resignation, said, ‘‘he can be given another assignment.’’

Mirdha, a former Union minister, had been tipped for a gubernatorial assignment during the last round of appointments, but it was fellow Jat leader Balram Jakhar who made it to the post in Madhya Pradesh. Sources said that he may be picked up for a gubernatorial post this time.

Given the fact that Mirdha has been loyal to both the party and Sonia, he is sure to be adjusted comfortably. His name had cropped up for the chairmanship of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) too. However, it may take the Government longer to dislodge BJP MP Najma Heptulla from the post.

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Oscar has been picked up for obvious reasons — one, he has the requisite experience for having closely assisted Mirdha and two, Sonia can trust him to execute the task on the dotted line. Organisational polls are a complex and sensitive matter. There aren’t many people around who can handle it. Therefore, it is no wonder that Sonia has brought Oscar for this essentially organisational job though he is a Union minister of state.

The Congress leadership has approached the Election Commission to seek one more year to complete its internal elections. The membership drive, which was due to get over by the end of July, has been extended by a month. The party has inducted two persons as special invitees to the CWC — . INTUC chief Sanjeeva Reddy and ex-MP Oomen Deori.

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		• NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday said the Government would view with ‘‘serious concern’’ the rise in inflation to 7.51 per cent. Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters, ‘‘We will not be lax’’ in any manner to tackle the situation. He tried to pass on the buck to the previous NDA Government, arguing that it was the cascading effect of the inherited state of the economy. He also criticised the release of full-page advertisements in newspapers by J. Jayalalithaa at the cost of the exchequer to contest CAG observations. — ENS

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