Acknowledging that the Congress has lost connect with the people, former party president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked the leaders and workers of the party to reconnect with the people. Addressing the concluding session of the three-day Nav Sankalp Shivir here, Rahul Gandhi announced that the party would undertake a yatra in October to re-establish connection with the people. Rahul Gandhi also hit out at what he called “divisive politics” of the BJP-RSS combine, reiterating his resolve to counter the “politics of hate and violence” in the country. In what was seen as a message to the dissenters, Rahul said that there will be a healthy mix of seniors and young leaders to guide the party. In her concluding remarks, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi struck a positive and personal note, saying, “We will overcome, we will overcome, we will overcome: that is our determination, that’s our sankalp.”
Several important decisions like one-family, one-ticket rule, five-year ceiling for holding any post, 50% representation to those below 50 years of age, and one person one post, among others, were also taken during the three-day brainstorming of the Congress. The Udaipur Nav Sankalp Declaration, which was adopted by the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, targeted the Central government over price rise, unemployment, economic slump, communal violence and various other national and international issues.
So, two important points emerged the three-day strategic discussions in Udaipur. First, the Gandhi family will continue to hold the leadership of the Congress, as there is no challenge to it now. Rahul Gandhi will finally take over the charge of party chief in August. There would be nothing like a group of dissenters. Second, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is acceptable to all leaders of the Congress in Rajasthan and the party would contest the next Assembly elections under his leadership. The successful management of the three-day brainstorming session by the state government is also a message for Gehlot’s adversaries. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has given its nod to several points in the six proposals that came up for discussions. However, it will be interesting to see when the party will be able to implement them. Both Sonia and Rahul gave a clear message to leaders asking them to be united.
Rahul also laid emphasis on the “one family, one ticket” rule to ensure that multiple members of one family do not contest polls without working for the party. Several such key decisions were included in the Nav Sankalp which the Congress adopted, outlining a road map for wide ranging reforms in the party organisation to make it battle-ready for the next round of assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
Hailing the frank discussions at the Shivir, Rahul Gandhi said that no other political party whatsoever would allow this kind of a discussion where the party leadership is bluntly told what the Congress party feels. Certainly, the BJP, and RSS, would never allow such a thing to happen, he claimed. The Congress has always provided a platform where people can hold deliberations without any fear or worry, he added.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-RSS combine, he alleged that a systematic destruction of various institutions was taking place. The day this country’s institutions stop working, the day this country stops having a conversation with itself, we will be in serious trouble, he said. He said there is a fear that the country’s demographic dividend will turn into a demographic disaster and alleged that the BJP government was responsible for it.
Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi announced a national Kashmir to Kanyakumari “Bharat Jodo yatra” beginning on Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) this year. “All of us will participate in it. The Yatra is to strengthen the bonds of social harmony that are under stress, to preserve the foundational values of our Constitution that are under assault and to highlight the day-to-day concerns of crores of our people,” she said. She also announced that phase-2 of the district-level Jan Jagran Abhiyan, which had been launched earlier, will resume a month later on 15 June. “This extensive campaign will highlight economic issues, especially the growing unemployment and intolerable price rise that is destroying livelihoods,” she said.
Sonia Gandhi announced the setting up of a “compact Task Force” to drive the process of internal reforms “that are essential and that have been discussed in different groups here at Udaipur”. She said these reforms, with a focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, will cover all aspects of the organisation including structure, rules for appointments to party posts, communications and publicity, outreach, finances and election management. The composition of the Task Force will be notified in the next two-three days.
“It is very important that we limit the number of family members that are involved in our organization, and let them work, develop and then let them join the organisation. But we must not have a situation where 5-7 members of a family are in the organisation,” Rahul Gandhi said.
KEY DECISIONS
Among the key decisions announced, the party decided to give 50% representation to those below 50 years of age at all levels of organisation. The party announced enforcing the one family, one ticket rule with exception to be made only when another family member has been working in the party for at least five years. In order to give opportunity to new people, the party also decided that no person should hold one party position for more than five years. The rule of one person, one post will be enforced. The Congress president will set up an advisory group from among CWC members to deliberate on political challenges. The Congress would set up three new departments—public insight department, election management department and national training department. All the vacant posts of office-bearers from district, state to national level will be filled up in the next 90 to 180 days. Now, Mandal Congress Committees will also be formed like Block Congress Committees.
The performance of DCC office-bearers will be monitored at the level of the AICC general secretary and organisation. The under-performers will be sacked, while those performing well will be promoted. Dalits, tribals, backwards, minorities and women will be given sufficient representation at all levels.
‘STAY AWAY FROM MEDIA’
Meanwhile, the party leaders were instructed not to share anything with the media. Even leaders like Digvijaya Singh avoided talking to media persons. Being the organiser of the event, CM Gahlot kept interacting with the media. He continued to lash out at the BJP’s alleged communal agenda. The atmosphere inside the venue was also quite different, as the leaders were seen mostly keeping themselves away from the media. Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi tried to interact with as many leaders as possible. Several women leaders were seen interacting with Priyanka. Gehlot joined Sonia Gandhi over lunch and kept talking with her. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was also seen talking with several leaders. After Gehlot, it was Baghel who was quite popular, and his government’s work was being talked about. Leaders stressed the need to push the people-friendly schemes of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh governments. Pension schemes, health schemes, programmes to address the issues of unemployment and farmers problems were included in the proposals. Some key decisions regarding the organization are likely in future.