AMN / NEW DELHI
CONGRESS PRESIDENT Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday appointed Ahmed Patel Treasurer of party and Anand Sharma as Chairperson of its Foreign Affairs Department.
Patel, who was Political Secretary to Sonia Gandhi for 16 years when she was the Congress President, replaces Motilal Vora who was the Treasurer for almost 17 years.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was made a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee while former Goa Congress chief Luizinho Falerio was appointed General Secretary incharge of the party affairs in the northeast states.
Patel had earlier served as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) treasurer from 1996 to 2000.
“The party appreciates the hard work and contribution of Motilal Vora as treasurer of the party,” AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot said.
Ahmed Patel plans to revitalise the party with door-to-door collections and get grass-root Congress workers contribute to the party funds. He believes this will help mobilise party workers. The party funds have taken a huge hit after the Congress lost power in 2014. It stands nowhere in terms of funds when compared to the BJP.
Mr Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha last year after beating BJP nominee Balwantsinh Rajput, who had resigned from the Congress to join the BJP. The win for the Congress leader came after the Election Commission cancelled the votes of Congress lawmakers Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel.
Mr Patel had announced his victory with the tweet, “Satyamev Jayate” (Truth shall triumph) and called his election not just his win but the defeat of what he called “the most blatant use of money power, muscle power and abuse of state machinery”.
Former Union minister Anand Sharma has been appointed as the chairperson of the party’s foreign affairs department. Former speaker Meira Kumar was made a permanent invitee to the CWC.