Mumbai: In a stern warning to rebels, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi Friday said that from now on doors won`t remain open for those who left the party and contested elections against official nominees as he would do away with the past practice of re-inducting such members.
In his first interaction with party leaders and office bearers of the Mumbai unit after his elevation as Vice President, Rahul said he had come to meet them so that there could be fruitful discussions during which some rules could be formulated for effective functioning of the organisation.
He said he would do away with the past practice of re-inducting rebels into the party. "Doors were open for them earlier. But now this will not happen," he was quoted as having told the meeting which was not open to the media.
"Those rules will be binding from me and to the rest of the party," he told the gathering and made it clear that empowering meritorious activists would be his focus.
Rahul also said he would take the initiative to resolve the issue of appointment of the Mumbai Congress president, pending for the last one year. Mumbai Congress unit has been without a leader ever since Kripashankar Singh, facing allegations of corruption, resigned following the party`s defeat in the civic elections last year.
Party sources attribute the delay in appointment of the city unit president to infighting in each of the six district controlled by high-profile MPs from Mumbai.
"This will be my responsibility, but you will also have to fulfil your responsibility as a party worker," he said, adding "I will strive for fairness and do justice to all."
With large parts of Maharashtra reeling under drought, he also asked Congress workers to utilise the party machinery to provide relief to those affected.
He reaffirmed his commitment to reaching out to each and every Congress worker in the country.
PTI
