Criticism arises within Congress as PCCs allowed new chief to select delegates who elect CWC

New Delhi: A section of the party has sharply criticised the central election authority (CEA) of the Congress for allowing Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) to pass resolutions authorising the new Congress president to appoint the party's state unit chiefs and nominate delegates to the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

While CEA chairman Madhusudan Mistry claimed that these resolutions would not affect the election of the AICC president, which will take place on September 24 after a week-long nomination period, some G-23 leaders claimed that the decision to permit the "incoming" Congress chief to nominate AICC members would invalidate the election for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) if one were to be even permitted, the Indian Express reported.

These leaders seek legitimate elections for the CWC to make sure it is not only comprised of party president loyal.

The more than 9,000 PCC delegates make up the electoral college that elects the party's national president, as stated in the Congress's constitution. Each state elects one-eighth of these PCC delegates to serve as AICC delegates, who later validate the election of the Congress president at an AICC session and choose 12 members of the CWC.

According to the party constitution, "The All India Congress Committee shall consist of: (a) One-eighth of the number of PCC members elected by them from amongst themselves by proportional representation according to the system of the single transferable vote, provided that the number is not less than five; four members each shall be elected from Chandigarh, Andaman Nicobar, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep TCCs."

A party leader said, "If the new (party) president is given the authority to nominate AICC delegates, who vote to elect 12 CWC members.. then how can we expect a free and fair election to the CWC? The electoral college is made by the (Congress) president…. This process, which could have reinvigorated the party, has been turned into a sham."