Congress goes for ‘merit’ appointments, raises eyebrows

NEW DELHI: In its desperate bid to rebuild after repeated election disasters, Congress has hit upon a novel experiment, which it has termed “merit”, as it is junking traditional caste and regional balancing in reorganising its state units. The rejig in Uttarakhand and Punjab, where the party was decimated in the recent assembly polls, has surprised many and triggered unease within.In Punjab, Congress has picked its state unit chief Raja Warring and legislature party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who are both Jatt Sikhs. The party has a tradition of accommodating communities in the twin power perches, though an aberration happened when Navjot Sidhu was appointed the state chief last year, which alongside then chief minister Amarinder Singh, made it two Jatts. However, replacement of Amarinder by a Dalit Sikh in Charajit Channi, restored diversity.This time, the party has used the appendages of ‘working president’ (Bharat Bhushan Ashu) and ‘deputy CLP leader’ (Raj Kumar Chabbewal) to accommodate a Hindu and a Dalit, respectively.“It is high time that Congress moved away from mechanical formula and went for the best man for the job. The earlier balancing did not lead to much,” an AICC manager said.Uttarakhand, comprising Garhwal and Kumaon regions, has always seen parties, especially Congress, divide key positions between them.However, in the post-election restructuring, the AICC has sprung a surprise by picking the state chief (Karan Mahara) and the legislature party leader (Yaspal Arya, who is Dalit) from Kumaon. Even the ‘working president’ (Bhuwan Chandra Kapri) is MLA from Khatima, though a giant-killer who defeated CM Pushkar Dhami.The replaced state president Ganesh Godiyal was from Garhwal, though he was part of an election-time rejig, during which the passing away of Kumaon satrap and CLP leader Indira Hridyesh created an opening for new appointments. Finally, the projection of veteran Harish Rawat (from Kumaon) as the CM face, rendered other posts largely insignificant.With all positions going to Kumaon, many are wondering if it is Congress’ unorthodox step after Garhwal region’s repeated rebuff to the party.Interestingly, Mahara, a former MLA and seen as “an energetic”, is estimated by most as capable who can be groomed for future as a pan-region leader. “But that is a long way to go,” a Congress member said.The junking of caste and regional considerations, as in the past, was described by a party manager involved in the rejig process as a “thumbs up to merit”.