Bhopal, Aug 11 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Congress on Tuesday held a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to review the political and organisational situation in the state and finalise the party’s strategy on issues concerning farmers, students, youth, women and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The nearly five‑hour meeting at the Pradesh Congress office was attended by senior party leaders, including state in‑charge Harish Choudhary, state Congress president Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha and several former ministers and legislators.
Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh joined the meeting virtually. In contrast, former chief minister Kamal Nath and former Union minister Arun Yadav were absent, with no reason yet given for their absence.
The PAC discussed the Congress’ ongoing organisation‑building exercise, the political situation in the state and issues the party plans to take up against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The leadership also deliberated on programmes and agitations to be undertaken in the coming weeks.
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, general secretary and in‑charge for Madhya Pradesh Congress Harish Choudhary said the party would fight for the rights of various sections through political and organisational programmes.
“The PAC discussed the organisation‑building campaign and public‑interest issues. Congress will strongly fight for the rights of youth, students, farmers, women and OBCs, ” he said.
Choudhary said the party would raise the issue of fertiliser shortage, allegations of corruption in Ujjain and cases registered against Congress workers.
He also criticised the government over what he described as attempts to suppress democratic voices. The demand for direct elections to student unions was also discussed.
He said the Congress would launch a statewide agitation, if required, over issues concerning students, farmers and the general public.
State Congress chief Jitu Patwari said the meeting had comprehensively reviewed the state’s political and organisational situation.
“The PAC meeting lasted nearly five hours, and there was comprehensive discussion on the political, organisational and public‑interest situation in Madhya Pradesh, ” he said.
Referring to the recent Datia Assembly bypoll, Patwari said the Congress victory had boosted the morale of party workers and reflected people’s support for a politics of change.
He said the party would continue to raise issues including unemployment, education, farmers’ fertiliser problems, reservation for women and OBCs, crime and alleged political harassment of Congress workers.
The PAC also discussed the Congress’ proposed legal challenge over the rejection of its Rajya Sabha nomination. Patwari alleged that Assembly secretary and election officer Arvind Sharma had misused his position under political pressure and said the party was preparing to approach the court.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said the Datia result had strengthened the morale of Congress workers and reiterated the demands for 27 per cent OBC reservation, protection of tribal rights and direct elections to student unions.
The Congress said the issues discussed at the PAC meeting would shape its political programmes and public campaigns.