Talking to the delegates at the three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ held in Udaipur (Rajasthan), Rahul Gandhi asserted that Congress is the only party that can lead the battle against communal forces to defeat them.
Rahul Gandhi on Regional parties
He said regional parties will not be able to perform this difficult task, adding that unlike the regional parties built around different aspects, Congress has a centralized ideology. He said that even the BJP is aware of this. That’s why it feels threatened by the grand old party (Congress). However, the statement by Rahul Gandhi on regional parties stoked controversy and invited sharp remarks even from the party’s regional allies.
New resolutions
Assuring party leaders and workers, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said, “we will overcome, congress will have a new dawn, and that’s our new resolution.” She also indicated that the party would form an advisory group of CWC members to discuss political matters and challenges in front of the party.
Non-decision-making advisory group
Congress will also constitute a task force to look into internal reforms and prepare for the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, she clarified that she would chair the advisory group to benefit from the advice of experienced party leaders and that the forum won’t function as a collective decision-making body. This clarification is seen as a message to G23’s demand for the revival of the Congress Parliamentary Board (CPB) and collective decision-making within the party.
Udaipur declaration
The CWC also adopted a Udaipur declaration based on recommendations from six-party subcommittees — on political affairs, economic policy, organization, social justice, youth, and farmers.
One family, one ticket
The Congress party, as anticipated by workers, signaled its approval for the ‘one family, one ticket’ rule with a clause that the second member can file a nomination after placing five years in the party.
One family, one post
It also backed the ‘one man, one post’ protocol to end back-to-back terms of office-bearers to ensure opportunities for new people to assume roles and responsibilities in the party. These decisions come amid resentment among, particularly, block and district-level party workers on the monopoly of leaders and families in party units.
Election management
In addition, AICC will set up a dedicated election management department to brainstorm strategies, campaigns, and alliances for polls around the year, rather than approaching elections as standalone episodes.
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