CHENNAI: "The high command is firm on filling up all organisational posts before the end of the current month so that the party could face elections to the local bodies in the State with renewed vigour," leader in charge of Congress affairs in the State M. Veerappa Moily said here on Sunday.

Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Moily said party office-bearers — from State executive committee level to village committees — would be nominated. The party had drawn up a roadmap for strengthening the organisation from the grassroots and the first step was the filling up of organisational posts. After completing the process, he would undertake a tour of the State with the party leaders and office-bearers. He would evaluate the performance of District Congress Committee presidents and other office-bearers on the basis of the party's performance in the elections. Criticising groupism, he said formation of groups would only shrink the party's base in the State. On the other hand, integration of groups would provide more space for the leaders to accommodate supporters. The party, he said, should grow from election to election.

Claiming that the party's strength had improved from the Lok Sabha elections to Assembly elections, he wanted the workers to maintain the momentum so as to get more share in the elections to local bodies. Party leaders and cadres should realise that the Congress as a whole was a big empire and there should not be an empire within an empire. He was also appreciative of the workers whose morale, he said, was high despite being out of power in the State for the last four decades.

Mr. Moily wanted the party workers to capitalise on the good governance being provided by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre. Congress was a major force to reckon with in the State and it was difficult for any political party to think of power without its support.

Asserting that the party would maintain its identity in the State, Mr. Moily said the steps taken by Congress to strengthen its base were in the interest of the Democratic Progressive Alliance in the State. The DPA constituents should work to supplement one another and should not confront each other.

There was no place for oneupmanship among coalition parties, as it would only create a conflict among the parties.

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