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Nagpur News: The Congress party and its organization in Maharashtra in general and Vidarbha in particular is likely to receive a major thrust as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is arriving in Nagpur on September 24.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Manikrao Thakre, while addressing a press conference in Nagpur said, “The day Rahul Gandhi took the reigns of AICC as Vice-President, he has laid down firm and positive guidelines for grassroots workers and top leaders for strengthening the party and organization as well. The Maharashtra visit is on the same lines. Rahul Gandhi would be in Nagpur on September 24and on September 25 in Pune, Thakre said.
The MPCC President further said, “Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Nagpur in the morning and leave for Suraburdi, on Amravati Road, where he will spend the entire day in meetings and discussions with Congress office-bearers of the district, block-levels, MPs, MLAs and Local Government Bodies from Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh. Rahul Gandhi will hold meetings and question-answer sessions with the office-bearers of Vidarbha’s 11 districts namely Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Bhandara, Gondia, Yavatmal, Washim, Buldana, Wardha, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. The districts of Marathwada include Nanded, Parbhani, and Hingoli, while the districts from Khandesh include Nashik Urban and Rural and Malegaon. The AICC Vice-President will hold meetings only district-wise and not in a combined way. Rahul Gandhi will review the progress of the guidelines he had laid down immediately after assuming the office of AICC Vice-President,” the MPCC President Manikrao Thakre said and added that Rahul Gandhi’s this exercise is only targeted at strengthening the organization and not the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress Vice-President is likely to meet 2500 office-bearers of block-level and district-level units in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh. The responsibility for the entire programme of Rahul Gandhi in Suraburdi has been given to the Observer of AICC Chandan Yadav.
Manikrao Thakre said, “Rahul Gandhi would be accompanied by the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Maharashtra Congress In Charge Mohan Prakash and Manikrao Thakre himself. But surprisingly, the Chief Minister and Manikrao Thakre will not directly be present during Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with office-bearers of block and district level. They would be called only after their need is felt, sources said.
The press conference was attended by Nitin Raut, Rajendra Mulak, Jaiprakash Gupta, Vishal Muttemwar, Ajay Hiwarkar and others.
APPOINTMENT OF BLOCK-LEVEL PRESIDENTS WITHIN 24 HOURS:
Interestingly, the Nagpur City Congress Committee consists of 18 Blocks spread over Lok Sabha constituency and Assembly segments. The six Blocks had their Presidents in place. But, within 24 hours, other 12 Block Presidents were appointed and that too, with back date entries. If this the picture of the organization, then only the time will tell the fate of the Rahul Gandhi’s Operation Strength.
CLOSE AIDES AND SMART ALECS (CHAPLUS) STEALING IMPORTANCE:
According sources, the close aides of top party leaders and smart alecs (Chaplus) were in the forefront with their leaders. A ferocious sort of contest among close aides for upper hand against their rivals was in full swing. Sources even informed that some nearby residents who were taking the brunt of security arrangements were totally opposed to such a big programme in the backdrop of rain fury which inflicted massive destruction in the entire Vidarbha thus putting farmers and other people at great losses.
… Rajeev Kushwaha
