New Delhi, Aug 21 : Disappointed at being left out, the senior leader of the Congress, Anand Sharma has quit the Himachal Congress steering committee.People close to Sharma claimed he has written his note to Congress President following his exclusion from the work of the state Congress which is due to go to the polls this year.
Rajeev Shukla, the state in charge of the Congress has not made any comments on the matter.Congress sources have said that they were unaware of the developments.
The resignation came following Ghulam Nabi Azad put in his papers following his appointment to head the J&K campaign committee’s chief.Both leaders are part of the G-23.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was elected on Tuesday, left as the J&K campaign committee’s head following being appointed by the party.He has made the decision known to the party’s leadership people close to him claimed.However, there’s no official announcement from either party.
Azad’s resignation comes as a shock to a lot of people in the party because it was believed that he was involved in making important appointments and was also active in the party’s forums.He even participated in the Congress “Gaurav Yatra” and spoke at an event for journalists when Sonia Gandhi was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald newspaper case.
Azad has been irritated since being disregarded for his role in Rajya Sabha after he retired as the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House.
Sharma is also one of the most prominent leader of the G-23 group that has demanded massive changes in the political party.
The Congress President announced on the 26th of April that he would be appointed Himachal Pradesh state Congress chief, CLP leader and Chairman of Campaign Committee.
AICC has also announced eight additional committees including a Steering Committee with Anand Sharma as Chairman and Asha Kumari as chairperson.
A brief note circulated by people within Sharma’s offices stated that the letter reads “The multiple nature of committees and the overlapping of duties required clarity to serve practical purposes.
I had asked GS (general secretary) organization as well as AICC In-charge to define the purpose of the steering committee in order to define the purpose and the role of the steering committee.
“Meetings of core group of HPCC and senior leaders on Election Strategy and Preparations have since been held in Delhi as well as Shimla.
On June 20, meetings of senior leaders, such as PCC President, CLP leader and Chairman Campaign Committee and those of other committees were held to discuss preparations for the election.
“On 7th and 8th of August, the In-charge as well as central AICC Observers visited Shimla.
The meetings of Core Group, senior leaders, and HPCC General house were convened.
“The chairman of the Steering Committee was neither informed or invited to one of the meetings that were held.
“Chairman of the Steering Committee has in an email to Congress President Smt.Sonia Gandhi has resigned.
“Mr.Sharma has assured Congress President that he will be a campaigner for Congress candidate.”
miz/dpb
