Cong to replace half of its local unit chiefs

Course correction Party admits that Rahul model on organisational poll was not implemented properly.

Within two years of conducting organisational election on the pattern suggested by party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, the UP unit of the Congress has admitted that the model proposed by the Amethi MP was not properly implemented. Consequently, the party is gearing up to change over half of its district and city heads in the state.

In all, there are 114 district and city units of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

The task has been given to the newly appointed zonal presidents who have been asked to find replacements as soon as possible for the "non-performers".

Of the three-year term of the district and city heads, who were elected in 2010, one year is still left. Those replacing them will continue till the next Lok Sabha election.

Party sources said the decision was taken following the report of the AK Antony committee, which was appointed to go into the party poor show in the Assembly elections and had blamed the "poor organisation". Former state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, under whom the elections were held, also admitted that organisational elections could not take place the way they were planned.

Finding new replacements of the non-performers is the first task that has been given to the eight zonal presidents. "The system of election as good and the aim was to ensure transparency, but it was not followed. Instead, many got themselves elected despite being non performer. In next one and a half month, major changes will take place," said a senior party leader.

The party had appointed senior leaders from other states as observers and returning officers and there were strict instructions that proper election should be held right from booth to the district level. In the past, the party used to nominate district and city presidents. The system of election was introduced on Rahul's insistence after he had introduced it in Youth Congress. Sources said initially the procedure was strictly followed but after some time laxity in the monitoring process crept in.

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