What is keeping Delhi's mantris busy these days? The All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on August 21 has led to a flurry of activity in the local headquarters. Depending on their core competence, ministers and legislators have been given the responsibility of handling accommodation, decorating pandals, looking after the food arrangements on the big day, leaving them little time for mundane matters like administration and governance. "No important meetings are being organised as all the six ministers have been put in charge of some important work," a senior political leader said.
About eight to nine major sub-committees that are headed by CM Sheila Dikshit have been demarcated. Finance minister A K Walia and development minister Raj Kumar Chauhan are coordinating matters between AICC and the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). Transport minister Haroon Yusuf is responsible for the transportation while tourism minister A S Lovely is busy arranging the accommodation. Known for his hospitality, industries minister Mangat Ram Singhal heads the food committee that has 40 members.
There is a first amongst equals even here. While Congress president Sonia Gandhi and MPs will be served in the VIP tent, MLAs will be herded into the ordinary pandal.
MP Krishna Tirath and MLAs Barkha Singh and Kiran Choudhary are responsible for the Congress president's office while in case of an emergency, health minister Yoganand Shastri will run to the rescue as he has been put in charge of first-aid.
