20 August,2023 03:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ashok Chavan. File Pic
Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday said it was an honour to be included in the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) and asserted he was dedicated to upholding its values and principles and contribute to its growth and success, reported the PTI.
Ashok Chavan is a former Maharashtra chief minister and four time MLA.
"It is with great humility that I accept this responsibility and commit to working tirelessly towards the betterment of Congress Party and the nation as a whole. I am fully dedicated to upholding the values and principles of Congress Party, and to contributing to its growth and success," he said on social media platform X.
"I look forward to working closely with fellow colleagues and the Congress leadership to address the challenges that lie ahead and to chart a path towards a brighter future for our country," he said.
Polls to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will take place in the second half of 2024.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday expressed gratitude towards the party's top leadership for making him a member of the working committee and vowed to "strengthen the ideology" of the party and take it to the people more forcefully, according to the PTI.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday reconstituted the party's top decision-making body -- the Congress Working Committee (CWC).
While 39 members of the all-important panel are general members, it has 32 permanent invitees, including some in-charges of state and 13 special invitees, including presidents of the Youth Congress, the National Students' Union of India, the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal as ex-officio members.
Pilot is among the new CWC members.
"I express my gratitude towards respected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi for making me a member of the Congress Working Committee," Pilot said in Hindi on X.
"We will strengthen the traditions, policy and ideology of the Congress and take it more forcefully to the people," the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said.
Pilot's inclusion in the CWC comes just ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly polls later this year.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018.
Pilot had made it clear last month that he had buried the hatchet with Gehlot on the advice of party president Kharge, saying collective leadership was the "only way" forward going into the assembly polls.
In 2020, Pilot had led a revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party's state unit president and deputy chief minister.
Last year, an attempt by the high command to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan failed after Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place.
(with PTI inputs)
