Mumbai: In a departure from traditional practice, state Congress chief Harshawardhan Sapkal has appointed 83 taluka presidents through direct interviews. Previously, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president would appoint persons of his choice. “Responsible and hardworking party workers will be given the responsibility to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level in view of the ensuing civic and zilla parishad elections,” said Sakpal. “Only those who work, will earn positions in the organisation. It is a completely transparent selection process.”According to a senior Congress leader, so far, Sapkal has personally conducted interviews of 83 persons and appointed them to lead taluka committees. He said Sapkal had deployed three party observers for each taluka, who, in turn, submitted a list of three persons for the taluka president post. Sapkal conducted their interviews and appointed 83 persons. “They will be given specific responsibility during the ensuing civic and zilla parishad elections,” said the senior Congress leader.Sapkal said the committee for selection of taluka-level presidents comprised Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and his predecessor Balasaheb Thorat among several senior party leaders from Maharashtra. He said the selection process is still on and the remaining appointments will be declared soon.
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