The Congress Working Committee held a meeting ahead of its ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, outlining the party’s future strategy. The party highlighted its urgent need to form a political affairs committee, public insight committee and a committee on public policy. The draft points received from the panels formed by the Congress for its Chintan Shivir also suggested the adoption of a ‘one family one ticket’ policy.
The Congress is likely to focus on economic issues and alliances in the upcoming brainstorming session in Udaipur. According to reports, senior leaders including those in the Congress Working Committee, members of parliament, state in-charges, general secretaries, and state presidents will attend the Chintan Shivir. The party had earlier formed various committees which are meeting to put forth the agenda for the session.
“Constitute a time bound constitution Review committee, the PCCs may have their separate constitution with approval of the CWC,” the panels have now suggested. It also called for a committee to coordinate with different citizen’s group, civil society and employees.
According to the draft points, one person should only be holding one organisational position in the Congress.
Some of the other points put forth by the panel included:
Constitution of a time bound constitution review committee. The PCCs may have their separate constitution with approval of the CWC.
- AICC and PCC general body meetings may be held twice a year.
- The tenure of Committee office bearers from AICC till DCC level may be fixed.
- Internal Party elections in the frontal organisation and in the CWC may be monitored with the stake holders in-order to ensure transparency.
- Transparent Fund raising process may be deliberated.
- A coordination committee on election management , alliance decision be separately constituted.
The Congress is holding a three-day brainstorming session — ‘Nav Sankalp Shivir’ — in Udaipur from May 13 and the focus would be the 2024 elections. Matters relating to organisational restructuring and strengthening will also be examined. Recent reports indicate that the party’s primary focus will be on the economy and farmers’ issues.
The other issue which the Congress is contemplating is to reach out to potential allies. While the party is part of coalition governments in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, there are several states where it presently has almost no presence at the Lok Sabha level. The trouble states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal where the regional parties are pitted against the it.
The upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will be a major test for the party this year. Several others including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will also go to polls in 2023. These are the major states where the Congress has to perform better and win elections to pose a challenge to the BJP in the 2024 general elections.
“The focus of the deliberations will be on the current political and economic situation and the challenges they pose to our society. Issues relating to the welfare and well-being of kisans and khet mazdoors, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, religious and linguistic minorities, women, social justice and empowerment and youth will also be discussed in detail.
