New Cong. chief for Bihar

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, DEC. 10. The senior Congress(I) leader and Minister for Health in the Rabri Devi Government, Mr. Shakeel Ahmed, was today unanimously elected president of Bihar PCC. Mr. Ahmed's name was proposed by the outgoing acting president, Mr. Chandan Bagchi, and another senior leader, Mr. Nagendra Jha.

Meanwhile, the Congress(I) is once again undecided on whether or not to pursue coalition politics or revert back to the Panchmarhi resolution of going it alone.

It is clear from the statement of the chairman of the AICC(I) Policy, Planning and Coordination, Mr. Salman Khursheed, that the party was indeed tired with its present strategy favouring alliances at the State level with like-minded parties. The significant aspect is that Mr. Khursheed generalised the party's problem across the country, not limiting it to Bihar.

Mr. Khursheed talked about the possibility of reviewing the situation in the State soon after the new State chief's appointment.

Whichever way the Congress(I) decides the RJD-led Government of Mrs. Rabri Devi is unlikely to be rattled in the changed political situation after the bifurcation of the State. In the reduced Assembly, the RJD is well-placed and the party's stability would not be affected even if the Congress(I) walks out of the coalition. The RJD enjoys the support of parties such as the BSP, KSP and Independents whose number is sufficient to keep the Government in office.

Ahmed thanks Sonia

PTI reports:

Before leaving for New Delhi to participate in the party's Kisan Sammelan, Mr. Ahmed expressed his gratitude to AICC president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi for reposing faith in him. ``I will work for strengthening the party with the blessings of all the senior leaders of the State. Besides, I will also seek support from the younger generation to help the party to become a force to reckon with once again in the State polity.''

Asked if he would quit the Rabri Devi Cabinet to give all his time to the party, Mr. Ahmed said it would be decided by the party high command.``I am a committed party worker and any decision taken by the party high command in the interest of the party will be acceptable to me'', he said.

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