Saturday, May 28 2005 11:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Seeking to regain power, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has enforced "reservation through consensus" to the tune of 78 per cent during ongoing elections of its functionaries to widen its vote bank in the tribal-dominated State.

Apart from swelling the party's strength by adding around 86,000 active members, the exercise has given an opportunity to young leaders from scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, other backward classes, minorities and women to present a new face of Congress at the block level, party sources said.

"Elections of functionaries in most of the 487 blocks were free and fair. The reservation policy was firmly adhered to," says the party's State election authority, which has virtually transformed into a grievance redressal centre, abuzz with aspiring leaders, lodging complaints over irregularities in the poll processes.

"We tried to enforce reservations and hold elections through consensus," assistant party returning officer Nirmala Samant told sources, adding, "Even though, the new system leaves 22 per cent seats for the general category, we managed to do it."