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Prasada says abolition of Congress veep post was not unexpected

Jitendra Prasada on Monday said Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision to abolish the post of party vice-president was not unexpected, and that it did not come as shock to him.

"I would continue to work to strengthen the party organisation," Prasada told the media in Lucknow.

He denied reports that the vice-president's post has been abolished due to some differences between former Congress president Sitaram Kesri and Sonia. "Such reports are baseless, and are being floated to weaken the party," he said.

Prasada also denied that Sonia had abolished the post held by him following the Shinde committee report which had held the party leadership responsible for its defeat in the Lok Sabha election.

''A Congress president has full rights to make any changes in the organisation to strengthen it,'' he said, pointing out that Sonia had indicated that organisational changes would be effected, soon after assuming charge as party chief.

''Kesri had appointed me party vice-president as at that time it was needed in the interest of the party,'' he said.

Prasada said the Congress constitution does not mention the post of party vice-president. ''Party presidents appoint their deputies as and when the need arises,'' he pointed out, adding that Rajiv Gandhi had appointed Arjun Singh to this post during his tenure.

''I have always been a true soldier of the party, and would try to fulfill any responsibility entrusted to me,'' he said.

Prasada hailed the appointment of new members to the Congress Working Committee.

UNI

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