Pune: The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed 69 new city and district presidents in the state with an eye on the 2029 elections. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal issued the letter along with a list of new appointees on Wednesday.According to Congress members, the appointments have been made following the party’s ‘Sanghatan Srijan Abhiyan’ where observers visited several districts and interacted with party workers to identify new leadership to strengthen the party at the grassroots for future elections.The decision to restructure the party was taken following the local body polls held in the state where Congress contested solo in many places. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s vice president Mohan Joshi said, “Though we continue to be part of the MVA, our party is focusing on strengthening its presence in all the districts to regain lost ground. AICC has given some fresh faces who worked hard for the party during the recent civic polls the opportunity.”He added that while appointing 69 city and district presidents, the party focused on social engineering where various castes have been given representation. These new appointees will raise issues concerning common people,” Joshi said.The Pune city unit of the Congress has also undergone a rejig. AICC has created two positions of party chiefs for Pune city to have better coordination within the party leadership.Corporator from Wanowrie Prashant Jagtap who recently switched from NCP (SP) to Congress will be the East Pune chief. Former mayor Deeptie Chawadary has been appointed as the West Pune chief.Pune rural area has also been divided into two sections where Kamlakar Satav is the Pune rural North chief while Lahu Nivangune has will head Pune rural South. The party appointed Narendra Bansode as its Pimpri Chinchwad unit chief.
