MLAs to be included in DPCC

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 2. The exercise of preparing the Delhi PCC(I) list took an interesting turn today with the party general secretary in charge of Delhi, Mr. Kamal Nath, stating that MLAs would be considered for positions in the PCC(I). The parameters for giving final shape to the local unit have also been decided upon and things are likely to concretise within the next couple of days.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Kamal Nath, said during his meeting with the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit and DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra, they were able to finalise certain broad guidelines. He said it had been decided there would be seven vice-presidents and seven general secretaries each. Similarly, it had been decided to have 14 secretaries in addition to the Executive Committee. Also there would be special invitees in addition to the all-important Pradesh Election Committee.``The set-up could also be further expanded after the MCD polls and the induction would be on the basis of the performance of MLAs and local leaders during the polls,'' he added.

Mr. Nath said Ms. Dikshit and Mr. Chopra had agreed to the idea of forming a separate MCD Election Committee in addition to the PEC. The idea to debar MLAs from holding office in the local unit, he said, was mooted by Mr. Chopra and not by him or the party high command. But following representations made by a large number of MLAs and by the Chief Minister herself, it was decided to have MLAs on the DPCC(I) panel. He said out of 53 MLAs, only a dozen-odd MLAs were in line for the posts. There was no harm in adjusting five to six people in the local unit, he added.

Mr. Kamal Nath said he wanted to wrap up this exercise as soon as possible and now the ball was in the court of the Chief Minister and Mr. Chopra. ``They have to come back with the final list and we will sit down and discuss the matter,'' he stated. Mr. Nath also said he had asked Mr. Chopra to submit the list of block presidents wardwise after seeking the opinion of the local MLA. The proposal was first mooted by the Gandhi Nagar MLA, Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, during the meeting of MLAs held by Mr. Nath early October. ``The idea found favour with many of us as we thought it would benefit the party in the MCD polls,'' he added.

It is believed that Ms. Dikshit, during her meeting with Mr. Nath on Wednesday night, advocated the inclusion of MLAs in the list and sought representation for all sections including minorities and women so that nobody is left out. Giving arguments favouring inclusion of MLAs, Ms. Dikshit said it was they who were instrumental in motivating crowds for party programmes. If they are excluded then it would become difficult for the party to function. Also, she said in view of the majority of the Board and Corporations being declared as offices of profit, there was no other avenue for MLAs to make representation. Their only chance of making it to the DPCC(I) would also stand shattered.

Following the Chief Minister's arguments, both Mr. Nath and Mr. Chopra agreed to include the MLAs in the DPCC(I). Mr. Nath asked both to finalise the list of contenders for the PCC(I) so that the matter is settled at the earliest. He also asked the DPCC(I) chief to get in touch with the MLAs to ask for their preference in the selection of block and district presidents.

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