Mallikarjun Kharge replaces CWC with 47-member steering committee

The new Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has come into action after taking charge. Late on Wednesday, he constituted a 47-member Congress Steering Committee, which includes former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. However, it does not include the name of Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting for the post of Congress President. The interim panel headed by Naqvi will replace the Congress Working Committee, the party's top decision-making body. This committee will function after the confirmation of Kharge's election till a new Congress Working Committee (CWC) is formed by the party in its full form.

Most of the members of the previous CWC have been retained in the committee, which was announced hours after Kharge took over as the new party Congress president. All CWC members and office bearers of the party submitted their resignations to the new party chief, so that he could choose his team. Every major decision in Congress is taken by the Congress Working Committee (CWC). There are total 23 members in that committee. But now Mallikarjun Kharge has dissolved that Congress Working Committee. In his place, he has formed a new committee, in which 47 members have been given place. It is believed that now this committee will take all the big decisions regarding the Congress party.

According to a communication from AICC General Secretary (Organisation), the members of the committee include senior party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AK Antony, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala and Digvijay Singh. Venugopal said in the order that in accordance with Article XV (b) of the Constitution of the Indian National Congress, the Congress President has constituted a Steering Committee, which will work in place of the Congress Working Committee. The CWC is the highest decision-making body of the Congress. The Steering Committee will now take all decisions till the ratification of Kharge's election in the party's plenary session, which will be attended by all PCC representatives. The plenary session of the Congress is likely to be held in March next year.

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