Sangma to head AICC task force

Announcing this here today, party general secretary Oscar Fernandes said that the task force’s job would be to see "how these points can be put in the form of an agenda and translated into action." The task-force, he said, has been asked to submit its report by April 21.

A close look at the high-level task force’s composition makes it clear that Sonia has tried to steer clear of any controversy. Pawar’s inclusion is an acknowledgement of his electoral successand both Manmohan Singh and Antony are known for their "clean" public image. By getting Arjun Singh, Sonia had made up for his non-inclusion in the Rajya Sabha and cleared the way for his entry back into mainstream Congress politics. Patel is a known loyalist. The fact that Sangma has been made the group’s chairman is an indication of his acceptance among all factions.

The decision to set up the task force was announced by Sonia at the AICC session held here on April 6. It was in this session that her appointment as the party chief was ratified.

Asked whether the new Congress president was planning to reconstitute the party working committee (CWC), Fernandes said that things would follow one by one.

In keeping with her desire to revamp the party apparatus, Sonia, in the meanwhile, continued her consultations on ways to tone up the organisation at various levels. She held meetings with Arjun Singh, M L Fotedar, K Natwar Singh, Ram Niwas Mirdha, A R Antulay and K V Thangabalu.

Meanwhile, former AICCgeneral secretary Sushilkumar Shinde said in Amethi today that the high-level committee set up by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to suggest ways to rejuvenate the party in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will submit an action plan to her on April 15.