To stave off AAP challenge, Haryana Congress inducts 14 lakh members

After more than four-and-a-half years, the Congress in Haryana has conducted a membership drive to strengthen the party organisation in the state. After the membership drive, which ended on April 15, the party plans to conclude organisational polls by September-end.

The move comes in the wake of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) flexing its muscle in the state after success in Punjab polls and many Congress workers and leaders joining AAP recently. Prominent among those who joined AAP recently are former state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, former Revenue Minister Nirmal Singh, considered to be close to Congress Legislature Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Singh’s daughter Chitra Sarwara.

Vivek Bansal, central leader in charge of Haryana, said that approximately 14 lakh members were inducted during the membership drive. “The figures compiled revealed at least seven lakh digital members and the number will be approximately the same in terms of hard-copy memberships. It is after more than four-and-a-half years that we have done this exercise and the response has been good,” The Indian Express quoted Bansal.

Cong election in phases

The party’s first phase of organisational elections, in which primary and block presidents and executive committees are to be chosen, and block committees will elect members of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), is likely to be completed by May 31, the report said.

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Between July 21 and August 20, the party’s district committees will elect their presidents, vice-presidents, treasurers, and executive committees. In the third phase, from August 21 to September 20, the state Congress president, vice-president, treasurer, PCC executives, and the All-India Congress Committee’s (AICC) members will be chosen, the report added.

The dates for the final phase, in which ACC members will elect the members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and other bodies, will be announced in September or October during the plenary session, it added.

Expanding base of AAP

On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is trying to establish a foothold in the state that shares its borders with Delhi and Punjab, both having AAP governments. The party has opened its offices in all 22 districts of the state and according to Sushil Gupta, the leader in charge of the party in Haryana, it is close to completing the process of opening offices in all 90 constituencies.

Bansal though played down AAP’s influence. “There is a minuscule number of people in the Congress, the BJP and other parties who, after feeling left out, are looking for other avenues. Such people are joining AAP,” the report quoted Bansal. “But it is nothing more than euphoria. The ground reality is completely different. With this ongoing exercise of expanding the party’s base, we are expanding the party’s cadre at the ground level.”

The Congress leader added that the party high command will soon take a decision to end the factional feud in the state unit.

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