Even as Congress is all set to hold its two-day meeting beginning on Tuesday, the party sources indicated that the leadership will discuss major issues confronting the nation under the BJP-led government at the Centre and chalk out the grand old party’s strategy to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level by giving more powers to the district committee chiefs who will have their say in deciding the candidates for assembly or general elections.
According to party sources, thr meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), party’s highest decision makig body will first hold the meeting on Tuesday morning and will be chaired by its Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and also attended by several CWC members.
The source indicated that the party will discuss to empower the district Committees across the country, with discussion all set to take on four points — to check the voter list at the district level during assembly or general elections, do crowdfunding at district level to hold ideological as well as political battle on the ground, giving them representation in the Central Election Committee, where they can join the meeting along with the state incharge and state unit chiefs and will have their say in deciding the party’s candidates.
The source fuether said that there is likely to be discussion on dissolving all the district Committees, barring the election bound states and some states where the district Committees have been formed few days or weeks ago.
The source further claimed that the party also plans to provide financial empowerment to district Committees and also some discussion are said to take place on Gujarat where the election is all set to take place in 2027.
The source also said that discussion will also take place on fulfilling the several decisions taken during the 2021 Udaipur Nav Chintan Shivir, of giving more representation to women, providing more powers to district Committees and also bring changes in party’s.constirurion to give powers to district Committees in the CEC.
The AICC Session, being held in Gujarat after 64 years, has become important in the wake of the discontent among Muslims over the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament last week. The Congress opposed the Bill tooth and nail during the debate in both Houses.
Notably, the last Congress’ session in Gujarat was held under the presidency of Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy at Bhavnagar on January 6-7, 1961. The first session was held in Ahmedabad under the presidentship of Surendra Nath Bannerjee on December 23-26, 1902.
“Nyaypath: Sankalp, Samarpan, and Sangharsh” is the theme of the two-day programme of the AICC.
The Congress has been out of power in the state since 1995.
In Ahmedabad, in various places including outside the airport, cutouts of the Congress top brass including Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been put to welcome them. Besides, cutouts, hoardings and party flags can also be seen.
Even the Ghilbi style posters of Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal was also put at several places near Sabarmati River Front.
Earlier, Congress general secretary in-charge of Organistion KC Venugopal said, “On April 8, the Extended Congress Working Committee will meet at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, both iconic figures born in Gujarat,” he said.
He informed that the meeting would be attended by CWC members, permanent and special invitees, PCC presidents, CLP leaders, council leaders, CEC members, office bearers of CPP office, former CMs and Deputy CMs. Approximately 169 people will attend on the first day.
“On April 9, the AICC session will take place, with around 1,725 elected AICC members and co-opted members attending, along with MPs, ministers, and other senior leaders,” he added.
It may be mentioned that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gandhi in March had called for a structural overhaul in the Gujarat Congress during his visit to the state. He had asserted that a faction within the party is “conniving with the BJP from within”.
The Assembly elections in Gujarat are scheduled to be held at the end of 2027.
