A coordination committee for the faction-ridden Haryana Congress may be formed soon even as the party plans to set up committees at zila and block levels and roll out a six-month-long programme.
The suggestion came up at a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of the Congress state executive here today under the chairmanship of newly-appointed party general secretary in-charge of the state Kamal Nath.
It was the first meeting of the state executive since its reconstitution on August 17, 2015.
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Asked if factionalism within the state unit featured in the meeting, Nath told reporters, "This issue has come up that we need coordination...."
"There is no such situation (of tension among state leaders). Everyone wants coordination and the organisation should run accordingly," he added.
Senior Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Union Minister Selja Kumari, state unit chief Ashok Tanwar, Haryana CLP leader Kiran Choudhary, attended the meeting.
On a query about Tanwar and Hooda camps not seeing eye-to-eye, Nath said the two leaders met him separately earlier. "I talked at length to both and none of them raised any criticism about each other," he added.
Asked then, how did the issue of "lack of coordination" crop up, he said, "This thing of coordination is not (what should be there) just among leaders here in Chandigarh but we are talking about the entire state."
When reminded that supporters of Hooda and Tanwar are often seen wearing turbans of different colours at party rallies, Nath said, "All these are old things. Now, you will see...."
The veteran leader claimed that Haryana Congress is "strong" but "coordination is needed".
"A coordination committee of five-six people will have to be formed. We will sit and discuss how to take it further," he said.
Asked if there was a possibility of any change in the state executive, Nath replied, "Everything is possible."
Regarding today's meeting, he said he wanted to listen to everyone and take suggestions, adding that they were put forth.
"It has been decided that zila and block committees will be formed soon and we will come up with a time-bound programme. I will sit with the state unit chief and after seeking everyone's suggestions, we will form the committees," he said, adding that they will be set up in the next three-four months.
"We are likely to take up a few districts first and come up with a detailed programme for six months," said Nath.
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Asked if Priyanka Gandhi would be seen playing an active role in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Nath said the party wants her to "come forward and connect". "But, this will be decided by Priyanka and her family. You and me cannot decide it, she has to decide," he added.
To another question, he said, "If she comes, it will definitely benefit Congress."
On the "change of pen" controversy surrounding the recent Rajya Sabha election from Haryana, Nath said, "Election Commission is probing it. Let their report come and things will become crystal clear."
Alleging that the SN Dhingra Commission of inquiry was a "political tool" in the hands of the BJP government for launching a "malicious witchhunt", he demanded its dismissal.
Nath said he resigned out of his own volition after being appointed party in-charge of Punjab last month as he was anguished over the "mischievous" campaign against him by opponents over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
"No one raised fingers at me for 25 years. I remained (Congress) in-charge of Delhi also. We won elections there and no one raised any finger.
"Even Nanavati Commission said they have no proof (against me). But, when the issue cropped up, I told the party chief that I do not want to get into this.
"My political career has been clean. I have been in Lok Sabha for the last 35 years. I said I do not want to get into this and requested to be relieved as in-charge of Punjab," he said.
Replying to another question, the Congress leader said, "Punjab goes to polls in a few months and I did not want the focus to shift on me."
Asked if he was contemplating legal action against those who had defamed him by levelling allegations, he said, "I am consulting but have not decided."
"I do not want to get involved in this. My conscience is clear. Even journalists are witnesses to the fact that no one raised a finger at me for 25 years," said Nath.
He said programmes will also be formulated for the frontal organisations of the party, including Mahila Congress, Sewa Dal and Youth Congress, adding that their bodies at zila and block levels too will be set up.
The veteran Congress leader hit out at the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana, claiming that various sections, including farmers, youth and traders, were "fed up" with these dispensations.
