(HT)
The Congress removed on Saturday Digvijaya Singh as its in-charge of poll-bound Karnataka as well as Goa, where the party failed to form government despite emerging as the largest party by votes. Lok Sabha member KC Venugopal was appointed as general secretary of the party and given the charge of Karnataka, where the Congress is hoping to retain power. Party secretary A Chella Kumar was given the charge of Goa.
“Congress President Sonia Gandhi has assigned the task of looking after Karnataka and Goa affairs to new AICC teams,” a release by the party said. Elections are due in Karnataka assembly in the first half of next year.Additionally, Madhusudan Mistry was removed from the post of general secretary and appointed to the Congress’ central election authority that oversees internal polls.
A general secretary coordinates between a state unit and the party high command.Mistry was in-charge of the central election committee (CEC) that was headed by Sonia Gandhi. The CEC selects candidates for elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.The reshuffle comes roughly a month after Singh was blamed for delaying government formation in Goa, despite the Congress emerging as the largest party. The BJP succeeded in cobbling together a coalition and chief minister Manohar Parrikar even offered “special thanks” to Singh for “doing nothing” and enabling the saffron party-led government.
