New Delhi: The Congress leadership is in the process of fine-tuning its plans to effect changes in its organisational set-up. The exercise is likely to take place towards the end of next week or beginning of third week.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad might get to play a greater role for the party in the run-up to the general elections.
The leadership is reportedly keen on drafting some experienced hands to get the organisation into shape before the elections, though it is unlikely that the leadership will go in for major organisational shake-up ahead of the polls.
"What we need is a few experienced hands. A major overhaul with just months to go for the general elections can prove counter-productive" said an AICC general secretary.
There is some talk of drafting Rajya Sabha leaders for party work in order to relieve those who might want to contest Lok Sabha elections.
But two general secretary-level and four secretary-level posts need to be filled up. The two general secretary posts lying vacant were once held by Margaret Alva and Ashok Gehlot. While Alva resigned following a row over her allegation that party tickets were up for "sale" in the Karnataka Assembly polls, Gehlot is now chief minister of Rajasthan.
The party will also need to look for replacements for Ajay Maken and Kishore Chandra Deo, who are currently holding independent charge of states, but will be contesting Lok Sabha polls.
At the secretary level, there are at least four Lok Sabha MPs - Avatar Singh Bhadana, Jitin Prasada, Madhu Yakshi Gaud and Priya Dutt - who are almost certainly going to seek re-election. The party leadership will have to find replacements for them as well. Some of the names doing the rounds as likely replacements are that of Rajya Sabha MP Hanumanthappa and Haryana minister and former IYC chief Randeep Singh Surjewala.
