Kesri to pack party's parliamentary panel with his men

In a bid to consolidate his hold over the party, Congress president Sitaram Kesri will soon constitute the eight-member Congress Parliamentary Board.

With last week's Congress Working Committee authorising him to constitute the panel, Kesri is all set to pack the CPB with his men.

Sources said among those in the race are Madhavrao Scindia, Tariq Anwar, Meira Kumar, Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, Lalthanhawla, Sharad Pawar and Jitendra Prasada.

The inclusion of Scindia, Anwar, Meira Kumar and Mukherjee is almost certain, considering their proximity to the Congress chief. Moreover, Kesri feels that Scindia would play a key role in the 1998 Madhya Pradesh assembly election.

As for Anwar, he hails from Kesri's home state besides belonging to the minority community.

Meira Kumar along with Kesri will represent the dalits in the CPB.

Antony's inclusion is being considered as he would represent the Christian community and also the south.

Lalthanhawla, the lone CWC member from the North-East, is said to be a front-runner in the CPB race.

Despite his ''allergy'' to Pawar and Prasada, Kesri is likely to include one of them in the CPB. Prasada may find a slot as the sole Uttar Pradesh representative.

Pawar is also lobbying intensely for a place in the CPB and the party chief would not mind including a detractor, it was pointed out.

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