Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor  asserted that the party must decentralise authority and empower its foot soldiers in order to revive itself. He also said that if he wins the Congress president polls, he will call for CWC elections and revival of the parliamentary board.

While speaking to media, he said he would fully implement the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed at the party’s Chintan Shivir earlier this year.

Asked about his plans for the party if he wins the electoral contest against Mallikarjun Kharge for the top post, the former Union minister said, “I think an important first step would be to call for elections to the Working Committee to spread our inner-party democracy even further.”

“I am going to implement fully the existing Constitution, which requires CWC elections and the revival of the parliamentary board that has been dormant for a quarter-century, and the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed,” Tharoor said.

“We must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party. Our PCC delegates, for instance, have literally had no role for the last 22 years but to vote in the coming election on October 17th!” the 66-year-old leader said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP asserted that he is the candidate of reform and change in the way the party is run, only to make it fighting fit to tackle the BJP in 2024.

Shashi Tharoor is pitted against Kharge, who is being seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to the Gandhi family.

The Congress presidential poll will take place on October 17 and the results will be out on October 19.