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Kesri tells CWC to wait till AICC session for his head

The Congress Working Committee, which was expected to nominate the party's new president, ran into rough weather this evening with Sitaram Kesri insisting on resigning only at the All India Congress Committee session.

Kesri was isolated at today's meeting. It is learnt he requested the CWC not to force him into a humiliating exit. Party sources said Kesri was not inclined to attend the CWC meeting; he had to be persuaded to make an appearance.

A former Union minister told Rediff On The NeT that Kesri intends to submit his resignation directly to Sonia Gandhi. "He will take two or three more days, go quietly to Sonia and submit his resignation, thereby obliging her, instead of placing it before the CWC."

The CWC meeting, which began at 1630 hours and was expected to last for at least a few hours, ended within eight minutes, the shortest in recent party history.

Party spokesman V N Gadgil claimed the meeting was brief as only the Congress Parliamentary Party leader's election was discussed -- the CPP will meet on the evening of Saturday, March 14, to elect its new leader.

Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar told Rediff On The NeT, "We discussed two things. We decided that the CPP leader's election will be held on March 14. We also decided that P A Sangma will be our candidate for the Speaker of the Lok Sabha." A four member Congress team -- Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar, Jitendra Prasada and Madhavrao Scindia -- will enlist support for Sangma's candidature with United Front leaders.

Anwar did not comment on whether Kesri would withdraw his resignation since no new party president was appointed by the CWC. "The appointment of a new president was not on the agenda," the newly elected MP from Kaithar in Bihar said.

Another CWC member Pranab Mukherjee said he had no knowledge why Kesri did not submit his resignation to the CWC, the party's highest decision making body.

CWC member A K Antony, who said the meeting was a ''smooth affair," felt Sonia's elevation to the party presidency was now a mere formality.

However, a party joint secretary told Rediff On The NeT that Sonia may not take over the party reins just yet, in view of President K R Narayanan's letter to BJP prime ministerial candidate Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She may run the party through remote control, this party official said.

Additional reportage: UNI

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