Congress dissolves 14 district, 140 block committees in Delhi

The decision was announced soon after DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely's meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi. "14 district committees and 140 block committees of the party in Delhi have been dissolved," DPCC chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said.

Congress was handed a crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls as all its seven MPs, including two Union ministers, from Delhi were relegated to third position in their constituencies.

The party had suffered a severe drubbing in the assembly polls last December, winning a paltry eight seats in the 70-member House after ruling the city for 15 consecutive years.

Sources said Lovely has been given "free hand" by the Congress leadership to restructure the party organisations in the city and make preparations for the assembly polls.

It is understood that Lovely gave his assessment of Congress' defeat in the city and apprised Gandhi of steps being taken to strengthen the party.

Sharma said the decision to dissolve all the district and block committees were taken at a meeting Lovely had with AICC general secretary in-charge of Delhi Shakeel Ahmed.

"The decision was taken to strengthen and revitalise the party in Delhi," Sharma said.

Lovely was appointed DPCC chief following resignation of J P Agarwal after the assembly polls debacle. Almost all the office bearers of DPCC were removed and Lovely, along with senior leaders Harun Yusuf and Sharma, was tasked to oversee functioning of the party.

"All other party cells have also been dissolved. The party will take steps to give a new direction to the party in the next one month and the process will be completed quickly," said Sharma.

He said committed and devoted party workers will be given appropriate positions in the party organisations.

"To keep proper balance in the party organisation, proper representation will be given to all sections of people, including youth, women, minorities, OBC and the scheduled castes," said Sharma.