Rahul asks party fronts to help devise ’19 win strategy
NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked the party’s affiliates and departments to help evolve a winnable strategy for next year’s national elections. This is part of his efforts to prepare the organisation for the polls.
“As heads of the frontal organisations, departments and cells, you have been active in taking the message of the Congress president to the grassroots and your suggestions and feedback is necessary so as to plan the election strategy,” Congress general secretary in-charge of organisation and training Ashok Gehlot said in an August 28 letter to heads of the party’s wings.
Gehlot has asked them to prepare a brief note on the election preparedness and areas for intervention.
“It is also necessary to discuss with you the support you require to make the working of your respective wings more contributory and effective,” Gehlot wrote.
Gandhi will hold a meeting with them soon and discuss the strategy for the 2019 elections.
The Congress has stepped up its poll preparations in recent weeks with Gandhi announcing three election-related panels such as core group, manifesto and publicity committees.
Panels on coordination, campaign and alliances are expected to be announced soon.
While no one has been named as the head of the panels, the leaders will among themselves select the coordinators for calling meetings.
The core group will be the apex committee to oversee the management and the party’s preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
On Monday, the 19-member manifesto committee had an informal interaction and laid down the ground rules for preparing the key election document. PANAJI: The Congress on Monday demanded the President’s rule in Goa, saying the long absence of chief minister Manohar Parrikar and his two cabinet colleagues due to illness had led to a “constitutional crisis” in the state. The BJP rubbished the demand.
Parrikar returned to the US for medical treatment last week for the second time within a month.
Congress leader, Ramakant Khalap at a press conference claimed Parrikar’s absence has brought functioning of departments, which manage 80% of the state’s budget, to a standstill.
“Democracy requires a stable government led by the chief minister.if that is absent...we demand the governor must withdraw her pleasure…” Khalap said. He said the failure of the constitutional machinery leads to dismissal of a government and imposition of the President’s rule.
“Our government is stable and has a full majority. Besides the chief minister... all the other ministers are working very hard and filling in,” state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said.