The Congress on Friday formed a panel of 15 senior leaders to present its case effectively in the electronic media in the wake of the party facing one controversy after another.
The Congress shortlisted this team following its defeat in Bihar and allegations of largescale irregularities in the Commonwealth Games. DMK leader A. Raja’s removal from the Union Cabinet against the backdrop of alleged corruption in the 2G spectrum allocation scam and Mr Ashok Chavan’s removal from the Maharashtra chief ministership in the Adarsh Housing scam in Mumbai has already affected the image of the party and its government.
Besides, developments in Andhra Pradesh with rebel leader Jagan Mohan Reddy planning to float a new party in the state are also causing concern to the leadership. This is because Andhra Pradesh has been the stronghold of the party. Furthermore, the AICC has yet to take a convincing stand on the issue of creating a Telangana state.
Attempts to weaken its allies, especially the DMK and the NCP, by a section of the party is not going down well in the UPA.
The leak of taped conversation between lobbyist Niira Radia with leading scribes and others is a factor compelling the Congress to reconstitute its team of articulate leaders.
The list includes five Union ministers — Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ms Ambika Soni, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mr C.P. Joshi and Mr Jairam Ramesh.
Besides, it also includes party spokesperson — Mr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mr Manish Tewari, Ms Jayanti Natarajan, Mr Mohan Prakash and Mr Shakeel Ahmed.
Other senior leaders who are authorised to participate in the discussion include Ms Girija Vyas, Ms Renuka Chowdhury, Mr P.C. Chacko, Mr Raj Babbar and Mr Sanjay Nirupam, said AICC general secretary and chairman of the party’s media department Janardan Dwivedi.
Ms Soni, Ms Vyas and Mr Azad had been former chairpersons of the AICC media department.