By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 7 Jan: Amid the prevailing political churn in Uttarakhand and prolonged internal tussles within the organisation, the visit of Congress in-charge for the state Kumari Selja to Dehradun scheduled for tomorrow is being seen as highly significant. Coming at a time when questions and criticism have been raised over her limited presence and perceived inactivity in the state after assuming charge, Selja is scheduled to chair an important meeting of the Political Affairs Committee during her visit.
According to the party insiders, the meeting will focus on several key issues, including the long-pending formation and expansion of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and deliberations on ongoing political issues in the state such as the Ankita Bhandari case. Given the current political circumstances, Selja’s Dehradun visit is being considered by the Congress leaders as an effort to infuse fresh momentum into the party organisation and to finalise the Congress’ future political strategy in the state.
A notable aspect of the visit is that, for the first time, Selja will also interact with the media after the conclusion of the meeting and formally place the party’s stand on the issues discussed. According to party sources, there will be a conscious attempt in this high-level meeting to project unity among senior leaders and to send a strong message of organisational cohesion. Sources claim that during her interaction with the media, Selja is also expected to raise the Ankita Bhandari murder case and will seek to blame the government for shielding a VIP in the case.
According to sources in the Congress, the meeting preceding the press conference is expected to be attended by several prominent leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Pritam Singh and Harak Singh Rawat, along with other senior party functionaries. The principal agenda before the leadership will be to finalise the structure of the new organisational team, a process that has remained pending for a considerable period.
In addition, the meeting will deliberate on chalking out a concrete strategy on the demand for a CBI inquiry into the Ankita Bhandari case and on intensifying the party’s offensive against the state government over the issue. Selja’s visit is also expected to serve as a response to party workers who have repeatedly raised concerns about the state in-charge’s distance from grassroots organisational affairs.
The party leaders are expecting some significant outcomes of the meeting which is being held after a long time in Uttarakhand particularly with respect to the expansion of the party organisation in the wake of the appointment of new PCC Chief Ganesh Godiyal, who had recently replaced Karan Mahara. It however remains to be seen what new roadmap the Congress in-charge prepares to address internal coordination among party heavyweights and to sharpen the party’s stand on burning issues confronting the state.
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