'Time To Repay Our Debt To Party': Sonia Ahead of Cong Brainstorming Session

Days ahead of the 'Chintan Shivir', the Congress Working Committee congregated at the party's Delhi headquarters.

The Congress Working Committee congregated at the party's Delhi headquarters on Monday, 9 May.

(Photo: Twitter/@INC_Television)

Days ahead of Congress' 'Chintan Shivir' (brainstorming session) scheduled to be held in Udaipur, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) congregated at the party's Delhi headquarters on Monday, 9 May, with an objective to set the agenda for the session.

In her opening address, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stressed that the "single over-riding message that goes forth loud and clear from Udaipur is one of unity, cohesion, determination, and commitment to our party’s accelerated revival."

She added,

"The party has been central to the life of each and every one of us. It has expected our total allegiance and has been good to each and every one of us. Now, when we are at a crucial juncture, it is imperative that we step forward and repay our debt to the party in full measure."

The three-day 'Chintan Shivir' is scheduled to start from 13 May and around 400 top party leaders, including members of parliament, state in-charges, general secretaries, and state presidents will be present.

"Self-criticism is of course needed in our party forums. But this should not be done in a manner that erodes self-confidence and morale and an atmosphere of gloom and doom prevails... This requires that the Chintan Shivir does not become a ritual, something we must just get through. I am determined that it should herald a restructured organisation to meet the many ideological, electoral and managerial tasks we confront."

Sonia Gandhi

Besides a precursor to the meeting in Udaipur, the meet also deliberated increased social representation in all party divisions, NDTV quoted sources as saying.

Following Monday's CWC meeting, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed satisfaction and said that discussions will be held on reports that leaders have shared.

The meeting comes after the Congress suffered major losses and witnessed its popularity diminish significantly in the recently-held Assembly elections in five states.

In this background, the party sought to address forthcoming electoral challenges and proposed political strategist Prashant Kishor join its Empowered Action Group.

The EAG was formed by Sonia Gandhi after the election strategist presented a detailed roadmap for changes in the party's top brass ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

However, Kishor has declined an offer to join the Congress, saying that he had turned down the offer from the Congress as the party is in greater need of leadership and collective will to fix deep-rooted structural problems.