New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) The All India Congress Committee has officially declared the establishment of several critical committees to prepare for the forthcoming assembly elections in Puducherry.

In a communiqué released by General Secretary KC Venugopal, the party confirmed that the Congress President has sanctioned the formation of the Pradesh Election Committee, the Election Management and Coordination Committee, the Manifesto Committee, the Campaign Committee, and the Publicity and Media Committee.

These committees are set to commence operations immediately, with the goal of refining the party's strategy in the union territory. At the helm of the Pradesh Election Committee is Ve Vaithilingam as Chairman, while M Vaithianathan assumes the role of Vice Chairman. The committee also includes members such as V Narayanasamy, AV Subramanian, Ramesh Parambath, E Valsaraj, PK Devadoss, V Pethaperumal, M Kandasamy, MOHF Shajahan, R Kamalakannan, RKR Anantharaman, MNR Balan, P Karthikeyan, M Ilayaraja, Ratna Ramesh, and Pancha Gandhi.

The committee further incorporates ex officio members, including Girish Chodankar, who is responsible for Puducherry, along with AICC Secretaries TN Prathapan, Suraj MN Hegde, and Nivedith Alva. Additional ex officio participants comprise N Anandbabu, President of PYC; Rahanathunnisa, President of Mahila Congress; Harshvardhan, President of NSUI; M. Veerapandian, Chief Organiser of State Seva Dal; Jaya Balan, Chairman of SC Department; Kannan, Chairman of OBC Department; and Mohammad Hasan, Chairman of Minority Department.

The Election Management and Coordination Committee will be led by V Narayanasamy as Chairman and M Vaithianathan as Vice Chairman.

The committee's members include AV Subramanian, PK Devadoss, M Kandasamy, RKR Anantharaman, S Dhanusu, R Kamalakannan, and Pancha Gandhi.

This group is responsible for managing logistical and operational elements to guarantee seamless election preparations.

For the Election Manifesto Committee, RKR Anantharaman takes the lead as Chairman, supported by Vice Chairmen E Rajendran and P Karthikeyan.

The committee's members consist of MS Maruthupandian, S. Dhanusu, V Sankar, SMA Karunanithi, AJ Abdul Rehman, A Sankar, N Thirumurugan, M Jayabalan, Pancha Gandhi, S Amudharasan, M Vinayagamoorthy, Vijaya Kumari, and PM Saravanan. Permanent invitees include Ve Vaithilingam, M Vaithianathan, N Anandbabu, Rahanathunnisa, M Veerapandian, Harshvardhan, and the AICC In-Charge for Puducherry.

The Campaigning Committee will be chaired by MOHF Shajahan as Chairman and R Kamalakannan as Vice Chairman. Members include MNR Balan, P Karthikeyan, MR Susairaj, M Ranjith, S Sundaravadivel, Rattina Ramesh, MC Shamir Ahamad, Parvatheeshwarar, Vijayakumari, S Amudharasan, M Veerapandian, M Vinayagamoorthy, and SPA Durai.

Permanent invitees consist of Ve Vaithilingam, N Anandbabu, Rahanathunnisa, Harshvardhan, and the AICC In-Charge for Puducherry. Lastly, the Publicity and Media Committee is led by PK Devadoss, with M Vaithianathan, MLA, serving as Vice Chairman.

The committee comprises Rattina Ramesh, K Ashok Kumar, RE Segar, D Pradish Irudayaraj, AVS Sakthivel Prabhu, Udayakumar, Vinodh Senthilkumaran, B Chitradevi, and N Raja Kumar. This strategic initiative by the Congress comes at a pivotal moment as Puducherry gears up for its assembly elections.

The union territory, characterized by its unique fusion of French colonial heritage and an Indian administrative structure, has witnessed fluctuating political fortunes for the party in recent years.

By establishing these committees, Congress aims to strengthen its foundation, craft a persuasive manifesto addressing local concerns like economic growth, healthcare, and education, and mount a robust campaign against competitors.

Analysts indicate that this could enable the party to reclaim ground lost in prior elections, where alliances and regional dynamics held significant sway. The inclusion of diverse representatives from various departments and youth wings highlights the party's focus on inclusivity and grassroots mobilization.

With seasoned leaders like former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and parliamentarian Ve Vaithilingam leading the charge, these committees are expected to prioritize voter engagement, media strategy, and policy development tailored to the distinct needs of Puducherry.

As the election date approaches, these bodies are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the party's narrative and coordinating on-ground initiatives.