Congress reshuffle with Rahul Gandhi stamp soon

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to be divested of his organisational responsibility.

After months of dithering over organisational reshuffle,which was attributed to party vice-president Rahul Gandhis decision to interact with party functionaries at various levels to get a grip on organisational issues,Congress president Sonia Gandhi is learnt to be in the process of finalising the list of new office-bearers. The AICC reshuffle,said sources,would be effected in the next few days followed by a reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers.

Stating that the organisational revamp will have a clear Rahul imprint,sources said a couple of party general secretaries would be dropped,but the more significant changes would be at the level of AICC secretaries who would be more empowered and given charge of different states.

While they will continue to report to general secretaries,they will be made more independent in terms of their role and functioning,said the sources. Over a dozen new secretaries are likely to be appointed in the reshuffle.

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Health Minister and AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to be divested of his organisational responsibility. At a meeting presided over by Rahul some time back,Azad had advocated one person-one post principle,citing his difficulties in properly carrying out his responsibility as a minister and party office-bearer.

AICC in charges of different states Gulchain Singh Charak,Jagdish Tytler,and DR Shandil among others may be relieved of their organisational responsibilities. Sources said there may be a new media department chairman in place of Janardan Dwivedi,although no final decision has been taken as yet.

Mohan Prakash,AICC in charge of Gujarat,Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir,may be divested of his responsibility due to non-performance,said sources. AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik,who has been holding charge of Rajasthan for over nine years,is likely to be given a different assignment.

Some young faces are likely to be promoted in the organisation. While Union Minister Jitendra Singhs name was doing the rounds for the post of AICC general secretary,sources said the young Alwar MP is not very keen given his ministerial responsibility.

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In the reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers,aimed at filling up about eight vacancies and portfolio changes,a couple of party leaders may be inducted into the government while some ministers may be drafted for party works. Road Transport & Highway Minister C P Joshi,who was recently given additional charge of Railway Ministry following the resignation of PK Bansal,is likely to be divested of one portfolio. Sources said he is likely to shed his additional charge.

Kapil Sibal may,however,retain both Law and Communications and Information Technology ministries,said sources. Several cabinet berths and Minister of State slots are lying vacant for some time after the exit of the DMK and the resignations of Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar.

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