4 Congressmen nominated to CWC

Party president Sitaram Kesri on Wednesday nominated four members including two chief ministers -- J B Patnaik of Orissa and Lalthanhawla of Mizoram -- to the Congress Working Committee, taking its strength to 16.

The other members who have been included in the CWC are Meira Kumar and outgoing general secretary Oscar Fernandes.

Four more nominated positions are still vacant in the 20-member body. Dr Manmohan Singh and A K Antony were nominated in the first instalment announced late last week.

Ten members were elected at the party's plenary session held in Calcutta in the first week of August.

With these nominations, the CWC now has three members each from the Muslim -- Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Tariq Anwar (all elected) -- and Christian -- A K Antony, Oscar Fernandes and Lalthanhawla (all nominated) -- communities.

UNI

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