Strengthening Party Organisation is a big challenge for me

Nirmal Khatri, President, UPCC, says thats the initiatives by the present Chief Minister are not enough and has not come upto the expectations of people. Acknowledging that the Congress party in state is in bad shape, he says that there is still a need to revamp the oganisation to gear up the party morale. Excerpts:

TE: How do you assess the present Samajwadi Party Government in UP?
Nirmal: The SP Government has not come up to the expectations of the people. The law and order situation has worsened and many cases of communal violence registered in their period. They are not able to meet up the promises which they made before the elections. I don't see them successful from any side.
TE: Your views on UP CM's initiatives on development?
Nirmal: Hon'ble CM of UP has made several announcements regarding development and it would be very good if they get implemented in the future. The credit of whatever good has happened in the state during this period equally goes to the Central Congress government. Central Government has extended its full support to the development initiatives of the UP Government. 
TE: As President of UPCC, What are your plans to put congress back on tracks in the upcoming elections?
Nirmal: My first priority is to boost up the morale of the party workers which suffered a setback after the last Assembly elections, so that they would be positive about the future development and the party plans. To restore party's energy is a challenge for me. My second priority is to re-strengthen the party organization in the state.
TE: What has been your contribution in mobilizing masses and organizing workers as a team? No one had really heard your name as a state level leader before?
Nirmal:  There was a gap in the past but my contribution to the party has been many. I was the president of UP Youth Congress from 1982-1986 and then I was nominated the Member of Parliament  thereafter I worked as Vice President in organization. There was a phase when I was in the state office under Sri Prakash Jaiswal and handled all the work. But for the last few years I had limited myself only to my constituency and now I have been made the President of UPCC.
TE: What are the reasons for dividing UP and setting up a new Zonal Structure?
Nirmal: UP is a very vast state and in this very huge area a single person won't be able to reconstitute the party because of which the Congress High Commission has setup Zonal Structure. It will help in revamping the organization and gearing up the party morale. 
TE: Do you think it will help in re-boosting the party in the state?
Nirmal: I am very much hopeful about its success in the state. It will help in mobilizing party's strength in UP. 
TE: Rita Bahuguna, the past state president promised more and delivered less and had to resign. Who's failure it was?
Nirmal: I don't think Rita Bahuguna was responsible for the poor show in the state. She must have realized her responsibility and resigned, it would be better to ask the question from her, she would be in better position to reply.