Organisational rejig key issue in focus at Cong’s Chintan Shivir
NEW DELHI: The Congress’s Chintan Shivir in Udaipur will approve a time-bound actionplan for structural changes in the organisation, set in motion a long-drawn people’s movement on select issues till 2024, and send across a clear message to regional parties that if Congress remains weak, any opposition alliance will also suffer, functionaries of the party told HT.
According to one of the functionaries, who asked not to be named, political issues and the revival of the organisation would remain the priority during the 3-day (May 13-15) meeting.
However, this person added, there is also a distinct possibility that a large section of delegates is likely to use the platform to demand the return of Rahul Gandhi as party chief. He had stepped down after the party’s dismal performance in the 2019 general elections.
To strengthen its position against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as well as among Opposition parties, the Congress will launch a mass campaign on issues such as inflation, economic mismanagement due to demonetisation and faulty GST laws, communal polarisation, and delimitation in J&K, the leader said.
The Congress is no stranger to Chintan Shivirs. But for the first time, it will set time-bound steps for organisational overhaul, identify issues, and prepare action-plans — all aimed at the 2024 general elections.
A second party leader indicated that some of the suggestions given by election strategist Prashant Kishor—such as setting up an election cell or an empowered group—might come up for discussion in a different format.
“We will discuss the rise of regional parties and its impact. But the Shivir will send a message that if the Congress is weak, an opposition alliance would not be possible. We will not go blindly into an alliance. The need of the hour is to strengthen the Congress,” said the second leader cited above.
“For the organisation revival, we have to revamp the structure from the national level down. Usually, we go to the people only during the polls. But now we have to plan mobilisation that will run for next two years with state-specific issues and people’s issues,” said a third leader.