Rahul's effect to be felt in the new Cong WC

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi effect is bound to be felt in the reconstituted Congress Working Committee with the AICC giving indications today that young India would get its due place in the 25-member apex policy making body of the party.

"Certainly, if India cannot ignore its demographic profile so also Congress party has never ignored the young India," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.

He was asked whether the Rahul impact would be there in the reconstitution of the CWC with the young leader making a strong pitch for a greater say to the youth in party affairs.

He, however, preceded his remarks by noting: "These are matters for the supreme leader to decide, but you can be rest assured that Congress has always taken all regional, political, social and economic criteria into consideration while making the CWC a real representative of the diversity of India itself."

The talk in party circles is that the age profile would be lower in the new body with some of the old non- performers not finding a place in the reconstituted affair.

Among the younger leaders whose profile has grown in recent years are Home Minister P Chidambaram, HRD and Telecom minister Kapil Sibal and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. Chidambaram is already a member of the Congress Core Group, referred to in party circles as the 'Super CWC'.

The developments in Andhra Pradesh has resulted in growing importance of Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy.

The last CWC did not have any of the party Chief Ministers as members and they were made special invitees whenever required.

One of the AICC General Secretaries Prithviraj Chavan has been recently appointed as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

It is, however, still not clear when party chief Sonia Gandhi, grappling with one controversy after another, would finalise the reconstitution. The latest signals are that she could delay a decision on reconstituting the 25-member apex policy making body.
Gandhi was earlier expected to take a decision on the powerful CWC before the AICC Plenary here from December 18 to 20 following her re-election as party chief for the fourth term recently.

Now the talk in party circles is that the task could take more time as Gandhi's hands have been full in recent days due to a number of problems being faced by the party. Gandhi is also the UPA chairperson.