Pune: A new dispute has emerged within the city Congress regarding the appointment of the city president. The controversy revolves around the appointment of block presidents by the acting city president, Arvind Shinde. Some Congress office-bearers allege that the power to appoint block presidents lies with the full-time president, while the acting president does not have this authority. However, Arvind Shinde claims to be the full-time president and expects to receive an official letter confirming his position in the coming days. This raises the question of whether the city president of Congress is an in-charge or a full-time position.
In June last year, during a Congress meeting, it was decided that office bearers who had served for more than five years should vacate their posts. As per this resolution, former president Ramesh Bagve stepped down from the position of city president. Bagwe’s resignation was in line with the Congress’ resolution of “one person, one post” passed during the Chintan camp in Shirdi. In the interim, Arvind Shinde was appointed as the acting president while the organizational election process of the Congress was underway.
However, a group within the Congress has alleged that the acting president does not have the authority to appoint block presidents. According to them, the appointment of block presidents is within the purview of the full-time president, and as of now, there is no full-time president in place. This controversy highlights the ongoing divide within the city Congress, with internal disputes and conflicts surfacing during various meetings. Party officials and activists from both factions are increasingly skipping meetings and protests, exacerbating the rift within the party.
Meanwhile, block presidents have already been appointed by the Congress following the resolution to revoke appointments of office bearers serving for more than five years. These block presidents have been given specific responsibilities, such as organizing voter registration campaigns, correction drives, and party meetings within their respective blocks. However, the appointment of these block presidents is likely to face further scrutiny and potential controversy.
The issue of the city Congress presidency remains unresolved, with conflicting claims from different factions within the party. Former president Ramesh Bagwe argues that the organizational election process of the Congress is yet to be completed, which means the city does not currently have a full-time president. On the other hand, Arvind Shinde asserts that he holds the position of city president and is operating under the guidance of the state president until he receives an official letter confirming his appointment.
