Ahead of Rahul’s visit,state Cong leaders plan grassroots campaign

The decision,party insiders say,was taken after discussions on how to confront the BJP which had well-entrenched itself in the state and kept Congress away from power for two decades. The meeting,held in view of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections,decided that state-level functionaries will spend 12 days in field,district level office-bearers will spend six days and taluka level functionaries five days in a month to get first-hand information about the party’s position and the problems it was facing.

The leaders felt that such a system will help the organisation to take right decisions to strengthen the party at the lowest level.

State party president Arjun Modhwadia told over 300 leaders attending the meeting that the activities of party workers would be regularly reviewed and those working hard would be rewarded with bigger responsibilities.

But those found not performing their duties would be dropped from their positions and replaced by others.

Modhwadia also announced to launch an agitation on the issue of drinking water shortage in parched Saurashtra and Kutch regions and also on the alleged failure of the state government to waive off interest on agricltural loans.

He said that 7,000 villages in 70 talukas,spread over 10 districts,were facing water crisis,but the state government was not moved by it,with Chief Minister Narendra Modi busy in “promoting his candidature for prime ministership”.

Modhwadia said that the state government had announced to waive off interest on loans taken from state cooperative banks only.

But the majority of the farmers,he said,had taken loans from nationalised banks in their respective areas.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela said that there was no way other than bringing newer people in the organisation to revitalise the party and counter the BJP in the state.

Former Opposition leader in the state Assembly Shaktisinh Gohil asked the party functionaries to get ready for future agitational programmes.

AICC general-secretary and Gujarat in-charge Mohan Prakash said that Rahul Gandhi,who was visiting other states,will also visit Gujarat in the coming weeks to motivate party leaders in the state.