The Hindu : Other States / Uttar Pradesh News : Khurshid not to file papers for UPCC chief's post

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Monday, May 30, 2005

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Khurshid not to file papers for UPCC chief's post

Sonia Gandhi to be urged to nominate the president

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Salman Khurshid today announced he will not file nomination for the post of UPCC president tomorrow.

Addressing the media here, Mr Khurshid said after consulting the party, he decided against filing nomination for the post.

"Instead, I would request the UPCC general body to bring out a proposal asking AICC president Sonia Gandhi to nominate the UPCC president,'' he said.

Mr Khurshid was recently nominated as UPCC chief after the high command removed Jagdambika Pal.

A group of state Congress leaders here claimed yesterday that they had faxed a letter to AICC in-charge of elections, Oscar Fernandes, and AICC General Secretary in-charge of U.P. Affairs, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, requesting them against holding an election for the post.

``We should concentrate our energy on the June 2 by-polls to four assembly constituencies,'' said MLC and former in charge of UPCC media cell, Siraj Mehdi.

Mehdi, who was one of the signatories, told UNI since Ms Gandhi was an MP and AICC member from U.P., she should personally nominate a UPCC president.

``This has happened in many states and U.P. should also avoid elections to the post,'' he said.

The letter had the support of Congress MPs Bijendra and Rajesh Mishra, who had recently raised a banner of revolt against Mr Khurshid at the AICC.

Mr Khurshid who decided against filing his papers said, ``There has been a tradition in U.P. against filing nominations for the post.''

While Mr Khurshid made no reference to the letter faxed to the AICC, the group claimed it was happy that he had decided against filing nomination.

There were speculations that an election to the UPCC president's post would only further fuel factionalism in the already shaky UPCC.

The speculations were raised following allegations that the new list of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) released earlier this week had ignored senior leaders considered close to former UPCC president Jagdambika Pal.

A section of the party had alleged the new list would strengthen Mr Khurshid and weaken the state unit. The UPCC chief admitted there had been disappointments about the new list.

UNI

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Khurshid not to file papers for UPCC chief's post