Congress MP Karti Chidambaram Dissents Over ‘Jumbo Committees’

Party leaders hit back at the MP, with several asking why he had to raise these matters on social media.

Member of Parliament (MP) and Congress party leader Karti Chidambaram

(Image Courtesy: The News Minute)

Soon after the Congress announced a major rejig in its Tamil Nadu unit ahead of the Assembly elections this year, Member of Parliament (MP) and party leader Karti Chidambaram on Saturday, 2 January, said that such "jumbo committees" served no purpose as none of the appointees would have any authority, which would mean "no accountability". In the organisational rejig, Karti Chidambaram has been named in the executive committee, pradesh election committee and the election coordination committee.

The Congress on Saturday announced a major rejig in the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and set up key election-related panels, including Karti's father P Chidambaram and former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar. The party has named 32 vice presidents, 57 general secretaries and 104 secretaries in the jumbo state unit.

Ruby R Manoharan has been appointed the treasurer of the party's state unit, a statement issued by Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation KC Venugopal said.

Tagging a tweet on the organisational changes by the party in Tamil Nadu, Karti Chidambaram tweeted, “These jumbo committees serve no purpose. 32 VP, 57 GS, 104 Secretaries. None will have any authority which means no accountability.”

He tagged the Twitter handles of the Congress, TNCC, Venugopal, AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi.

Responding to his tweet, other Congress leaders and party supporters pointed out that the appointments were a recognition of their hard work. They further alleged that they were not posted to the new designations because of their 'father', taking a dig at Karti's lineage, which gave him an undeniable advantage within the party. Several others asked why the Congress MP had to raise these matters on social media instead of discussing it with his party privately.

The appointments come months ahead of the Assembly polls, likely to take place in April or May. The Congress is likely to contest the polls as part of the opposition alliance headed by the DMK, to take on the ruling AIADMK coalition.

(With inputs from PTI.)

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission)