Congress CWC attempts to boost morale of a demoralised party

Sonia Gandhi critisised the government saying that the country's democratic institutions are being undermined by bringing in ordinances

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), which met on Tuesday, deliberated on organisational revamp and the strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, especially over the land ordinance. The CWC did not take a decision on elevation of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi as president of the party. The CWC would meet again in March to take a call on this.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in her introductory remarks, first emphasised on intensifying the ongoing membership drive, which has had to be extended by two months due to poor response. Sonia attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of being “dictatorial” as well as “anti-farmer and anti–people”.

FRUITFUL ENOUGH?

• The CWC did not take a decision on elevation of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi as president of the party
• Some participants said though the meet boosted their morale, it did not take any new decisions  
• The members also mulled over launching an online membership, though a final call on this is yet to be taken

All Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs have already been directed to start “Chetna Abhiyan”,  a campaign to make people aware of the anti-farmer policies of the government.

Through this campaign, the party would highlight the "anti-farmer" land Ordinance and the government's failure to revise minimum support price of crops, rise in prices, reduction in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme allocations. The party would stage dharnas, agitations and meetings.

Sonia said, "The country's democratic institutions are being undermined. The BJP-led government has already promulgated 10 Ordinances in its seven-month tenure. The government was working under a perilous notion that ordinances constitute good governance. Is there an ulterior motive behind this hurry (to bring ordinances)?”

About 30 members attended the meeting. Amarinder Singh of Punjab, who has been demanding the ouster of Punjab PCC chief Partap Bajwa, stayed away. Former Food Minister K V Thomas and former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh briefed the members on the land and coal Ordinances.

The substantial part of the deliberation was on organisational issues such as re-introduction of the concept of active membership, bringing down the tenure of elected office-bearers from five to three years and providing 50 per cent reservation to SC, ST, OBCs and minorities in district and state committees of the party. The members also mulled over launching an online membership, though a final call on this is yet to be taken.

Rahul Gandhi reportedly called for giving more power to grassroots workers and block presidents. Some participants said though the meet boosted their morale, it did not take any new decisions. According to them, the major takeaway was: “the party will have to reconnect with the masses and reach out to the people something that it had lost in the past decade in power”.