Drastic revamp of AICC on the cards?

Faced with the worst electoral debacle, a drastic revamp of the AICC appears to be on the cards, which is expected to witness a generational change that will seek to make the Congress fighting fit.
The remarks of party general secretary (Organisation) Janardan Dwivedi favouring that leaders beyond 70 years keep off from active posts in the party are being seen as indication of things to come.
"The writing on the wall is clear. After such a debacle, a party can come back only after fighting on the street for which youngsters are needed. It is the young, which has to fight the electoral battle," another senior party functionary speaking at the condition of anonymity said.

Even on the organisation front, the party leader, who has a long experience of working in the government as well in the organisation, recalled that most of the AICC secretaries appointed by Rahul Gandhi last year are below 45 years.
When told that there could be leaders, who are above 65 or 70 years but could have the mental ability and physical strength to perform, the leader said that if a bar has to be set, it has be based on the "chronicle age" and not "mental age" on which opinions would be subjective.
"The sooner it is understood, it is better. The elders should make way for the young leaders. You have to pay attention to the age factor in electoral politics. I am of the opinion that the age consideration should be there," he said but caveated his response by saying these are his "personal views".

The remarks are significant as a number of senior AICC functionaries have either crossed 70 years or approaching it. Party Treasurer Motilal Vora is 85, Ambika Sonia 71, Madhusudan Mistry 69, Digvijay Singh 67, Ghulam Nabi Azad 65, C P Joshi 64 and Mohan Prakash 64. Besides, A K Antony is 73 years old, P Chidambaram is 68 and Sheila Dikshit is 76.
Dwivedi had, however, maintained that there are some posts, which could be exception to the age bar. "Sheila Dikshit represents both culture and temperament of Delhi," a leader speaking on the condition of anonymity said.