In an effort to revamp the Congress party in India after losing the Assembly elections in five states, including Manipur, the party has launched an intensive membership enrollment drive in the state to strengthen the party. It plans to enrol three lakhs new members during the drive in the state.
The Congress party in Manipur fielded 53 candidates in the recent election to the 60-member state Legislative Assembly 2022, but it suffered a massive loss and secured only five seats, whereas its main rival BJP won 32 MLA seats.
As a measure to strengthen and revamp the party's structure in Manipur, MPCC will also hold a block, district and state-level organisational election from April 16 to May 3, said pradesh returning officer (PRO) of MPCC Pratap Bhanu Sharma.
Sharma was addressing the media on Tuesday at MPCC office in Imphal West. He along with assistant pradesh returning officer (APRO) of MPCC arrived in the state recently after being appointed as PRO and APRO respectively by chairman of central election authority AICC, Madhusudan Mistry.
So far, the party has enrolled 1.5 lakh individuals in Manipur during the intensive enrolment drive which will be conducted till March 31, Bhanu said. He said the Congress plans to enrol three lakhs new members during the drive in Manipur.
After the completion of the party’s organisation elections in the state, the appointed representatives of MPCC will take part in electing the new representatives of the AICC which will be held in August, said the PRO.
He also informed that the party managed to reserve 33 per cent of the office-bearers seats for female members in blocks, districts and state level.
Holding the election in a free and fast manner is a strict direction given by AICC leader Madhusudan, he said, adding any bona fide members who like to contest the election of the office-bearers can take the form from the respective offices by paying a deposit of Rs 100.
Informing that the EROs of the election process will be appointed very shortly, the PRO said that he along with the APRO will also try to reach out and visit to the entire block and district level offices of the party and interact with the present office bearers for any infrastructural development.
Bhanu also said, “We have acknowledged the various disappointments of the party’s state unit during the election due to booth capture, uses of muscle and money power and also manipulation of the EVM by the rivals.”
Regarding the claim of EVM manipulation, he asked the concerned candidates of the Congress party to submit supportive documents to the team so that AICC can take up necessary measures such as approaching the court or to the ECI.
After suffering a big loss in the election of the five states, there were reports that the Gandhi’s family will be resigning from all organisational posts of the party. However the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party held on March 13 had decided to hold up Sonia Gandhi to remain as the Congress chief till the organisation election is held for the appointment of the new AICC president.
