With the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan inching closer, the Congress is making efforts to increase unity within its state unit. With instances in Delhi and now Jaipur, the party’s emphasis on unity has become evident. The Congress put on a display of unity in the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) during its “Silent Satyagraha” at the Martyrs’ Memorial on Wednesday and again during the meeting of Block Congress Presidents at the Pradesh Congress Headquarters in Jaipur on Thursday.
State Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasara, co-incharge Amrita Dhawan, co-incharge Virendra Singh Rathod, Congress senior leader and Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Chowdhary, PCC ex-president BD Kalla, and former state president Sachin Pilot were in attendance at the state headquarters after close to a year-and-a-half.
During the meeting, PCC president Dotasra said the earlier meeting held in Delhi where national President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi gave a message, has united the entire party. “When Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge emphasised that there should not be factionalism within the party, we assured them that we have no factions. We only have one faction Rahul Gandhi and Kharge in Congress. We all assured them that we have our own duties,” Dotsara said.
The PCC president also noted that Sachin Pilot had been appointed as the Deputy Chief in the party’s working committee and became the president in 15 years. “Whoever works honestly will be rewarded by the party in the organisation.”
Govind Singh Dotasra, along with other party leaders in attendance, issued ID cards for all newly-appointed block Congress presidents on Thursday. Dotasra told all Block Presidents to use their introduction letters “like ATM cards.” He also instructed the block presidents to form their Block Executive Committees within the next seven days, adding that party workers who are “doing good work” should be recommended for a promotion to the District Congress Committee. “We need to identify even the smallest community and bring all sections of our society together,” Dotasra said. “If anyone has a need or complaints from the PCC, they should inform us. If there is any need from the government, leaders should inform the Ministers. We can also convey our messages to the government through the PCC.”
During the Sankalp Shivir in Udaipur, the resignations of the District Presidents of five districts—Nagaur, Barmer, Jodhpur Rural, Bikaner City, and Dausa—were rejected, and the organisation asked them to continue working. As the elections are approaching, it is not appropriate for the Congress to change its District Presidents.
Dotasra said the Congress organisation will have two major decisions to make. The first will be political appointments within three months of the Congress forming the government, as stated by the party’s high command. The second decision will be to make a list of the 40 best-performing block presidents out of the 400 appointed. These block presidents will meet with the Congress high command to present their suggestions and requests. The government has already made the district presidents the vice-presidents in the 20-point program, this decision will continue.
Addressing the Block Presidents, Harish Choudhary referred to the resources that the Bharatiya Janata Party has and said “While the BJP has no shortage of resources, it doesn’t mean that our leaders don’t have resources. Congress is the only party in the world that is the party of the rich and the poorest. When it comes to giving thousands of rupees to the party, even giving Rs 500 becomes a task. Initially, no one was ready to give lakhs or crores of rupees to our candidates or the party, and if someone did, the ED and Income Tax would come after them. He said that no one should remain under the misconception that we will get something from the Congress Committee.”
Sachin Pilot said that the Minister should go along with the block presidents so that the block presidents get VIP treatment. He added, “Small talks will continue between us leaders. You should pay attention to this in your work and help the Congress form the government again as time is running out.”