Congress to elect party prez soon
New Delhi, Jan 22: The Congress party will have an elected president by June 2021, with the party’s working committee on Friday approving holding the internal election after the assembly polls. The committee, after a three and a half hour meeting, authorised incumbent party chief Sonia Gandhi to schedule the internal election after the conclusion of assembly polls in five states. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala said elections to the CWC will also be held but it remains to be seen whether they can be scheduled before or after the election to the Congress chief’s post. Sources said the Central Election Authority has proposed the holding of polls for electing the party president and AICC session on May 29 and the working committee discussed the dates, but authorised Sonia Gandhi to schedule them after the assembly polls. (PTI)
Work restarts at Ram temple site
Ayodhya, Jan 22: The work restarted at the Ram temple site in Ayodhya, two months after it stopped due to a problem caused by the groundwater. A member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra, the trust overseeing the temple construction, said they have finalised the design of its foundation after discussions with engineers from the Larsen and Toubro and Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd. A two-day puja was also performed at the temple site to mark the restarting of construction activity. Temple trust member Dr Anil Mishra said after the puja, digging has started and it will take almost 70 days to remove the debris. (PTI)
Min resigns from Mamata cabinet
Kolkata, Jan 22: In yet another jolt for the TMC dispensation, West Bengal forest minister Rajib Banerjee quit the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, joining the growing list of dissenters who have put the ruling camp in a tight spot ahead of the assembly elections. The TMC, however, asserted that Banerjee’s move would have no impact on the party. Banerjee, while talking to reporters, said he was forced to take this decision after being publicly humiliated by a section of the party’s leaders for airing his grievances over their style of functioning. “I had grievances against some of the party’s senior members and informed the leadership about it. I also had a word with party supremo, but nothing happened. Instead, I was personally attacked by a section of leaders. I was hurt by the personal attacks. Hence, I resigned from the state cabinet,” he said. (PTI)