Ranchi, Nov.13: The Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) announced a jumbo committee of 156 people last week which is hardly expected to infuse a fresh lease of life into the party and is seen more as an effort to placate the different groups.
The move itself was seen as unusual given the fact that president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu had been saying that not more than 31 people would be included in the committee.
That makes it clear that the size of the committee was made ?under compulsion? and may have been against Balmuchu?s wishes.
?Most of them are either inactive or have nothing to do with revival of the party. Those who should have been in the committee are not there and those who should not have been there have managed to find a place,? said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity.
?For example,? the leader pointed out, ?there is no proper representation from Santhal Pargana, which is very politically important.?
?Similarly, Rajputs, who are dominant in the society, find no place in the new committee,? he added.
?Senior leader and former MLA Rajendra Prasad Singh does not find a place in the committee. Manzoor Ahamad Ansari, who commands considerable respect in the Muslim community, has been merely made special invitee in the committee and who will not be able to participate in the executive committee meeting,? he added.
And though the committee includes young faces, the members do not feel that they will give a fresh lease to the party.
The list, which was approved by AICC president Sonia Gandhi, consists, besides the president, 14 vice-presidents, a treasurer, 19 general secretaries, three protocol secretaries, 33 secretaries and 85 special invitees, including all MPs, MLAs, former PCC presidents, and presidents of frontal organisations.
JPCC president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu said some prominent Congress leaders have not been included in the committee, but they will be given responsibilities in the future.
The vice presidents are K. N. Jha, Tilakdhari Singh, Bhukhla Bhagat, Rana Sangram Singh, Amanat Ali, Kalidas Murmu, Awadh Bihari Singh, Jagrani Kujur, Gopal Sahu, Hari Ram, Gopichandra Dokania, Gulfam Mujibi, Durga Prasad Jamuda, Hari Narayan Prasad.
The party has nominated Dheeraj Prasad Sahu as the treasurer.
The list of general secretaries includes Theodor Kiro, Israel Ansari, Shailesh Kumar Sinha, Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, Anadi Brahma, K. N. Tripathi, Manishankar.
While Vinay Kumar Sinha, Ravindra Singh and Abha Sinha have been nominated protocol secretaries, Sarwar Rizvi and Rakesh Kumar Singh have been given the responsibility of spokesperson.
