Leaders want AICC(I) session in State

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV. 25. Congress leaders from Rajasthan have requested the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, to hold the next AICC(I) session in the State. The last time, Rajasthan hosted an AICC session here was as back as 1948, which was also the first AICC session after the country's Independence from foreign rule.

The party leaders at the meeting of the newly elected PCC members, convened here at the Indira Gandhi Bhawan today to formally elect Dr. Girija Vyas as the State president expressed their desire for an AICC session in their speeches. The topic was broached by the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot during his brief address proposing the name of Dr. Vyas as PCC president.

Mr. Natwar Singh, who supported Dr. Vyas, also told the PCC members that the Chief Minister, the PCC president and other party leaders present like Ms. Prabha Rao, the general secretary in charge for the State and Mrs. Urmila Ben Patel, the chairperson of the State Election Authority, would request Ms. Sonia Gandhi to hold the next AICC session in Jaipur.

Ms. Patel, while declaring Dr. Vyas as the new party president said that a resolution asking for the holding of the AICC session here would be sent to Ms. Gandhi.

Dr. Girija Vyas in her address said the State was facing a drought but the party workers were determined to make sacrifices to hold the next AICC session in Rajasthan.

Mr. Gehlot, talking to The Hindu later said that he had on the previous day referred the matter to Ms. Sonia Gandhi when he met her in Delhi. The party president was told that the State was ready to hold the session, he said. A reply from her was awaited, Mr. Gehlot informed.

The party is reportedly considering Pune and Bangalore also as the possible Cities for holding the AICC session. Like Rajasthan, both Karnataka and Maharashtra are also Congress-ruled States. If the party finally decides to hold the session outside Delhi, it is most likely to take place in December.

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Section  : Other States
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