The path for defeating BJP, RSS goes through Gujarat; it is the most important state for us: Rahul Gandhi

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the senior Congress leader said, “The original foundation of our party was laid in Gujarat – you (the state) have given us our biggest leaders: Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.”

Acknowledging that there has been demoralisation among the Gujarat cadre of the party, Rahul said, “This (a victory in Gujarat) seems like a difficult task but I am here to tell you that it is not that tough. It is easy for you and we will complete this task in Gujarat.”

The MP further said, “For a few months, discussions have been going on with (party chief Mallikarjun) Kharge ji and senior leadership in Delhi on ways to strengthen the Congress because although this fight is political, it is of ideology too. There are only two ideological parties in the country — one is the BJP and the RSS, and the other is the Congress. The entire country knows that only the Congress can defeat BJP-RSS. And if we want to defeat the RSS and the BJP in the country, the path for it goes through Gujarat…our ideology and party started from Gujarat.”

When questioned by a local leader about funding, Rahul said the party has decided to create a monthly corpus for the districts instead of the practice of providing financial support only three months prior to the elections. He, though, said the party also wants district leaders to get involved in raising funds.

Rahul said that based on recent meetings with senior district leaders and their feedback, the party has decided to make the district committee chiefs as the decision makers for their districts.

On strengthening district units

“The main thing that came out of our discussions was that the district should be run from the district concerned and not from Ahmedabad. District leaders should be strengthened and district presidents, especially, should be given responsibility and power. They should be strengthened, which we are starting now. The district president will not be a compromised candidate. They will not run the district alone but with your (other local leaders and workers) help. But, the district will be run as per their (the district president’s) decision. The district (unit) will run according to the district committee’s decisions; no directions or candidates will come from the higher-ups,” Rahul said.

Stressing on bridging the gap between the organisation and the candidates, Rahul said the party wants a connection between the organisation and those contesting the elections. “What happens today is that the Congress organisation helps (a candidate) in winning an election but once the person becomes an MLA or MP, he forgets the organisation and leaves (for another party),” he added.

To this, the solution we have is that it is the organisation, and not just a single person from the top, which would decide the candidate, he said.

Rahul said the Congress will involve local leaders in distribution of tickets. “(One complaint is) that local people, local district leaders are not involved in the decision on tickets. They say we do not know where tickets come from, they just drop from the sky,” he pointed out.

A few members present at the meeting also complained about senior leaders “suddenly visiting from Ahmedabad and vanishing”, adding that even district leaders don’t have any hold on their respective districts.

Further, on the accountability that will come with empowerment, Gandhi said, “They (district chiefs) are senior leaders but cannot make a booth win. So, we want to strengthen those who have a hold on the booths and local issues, (and who can) raise the concerns of the people. Those who can develop the district will be made DCC presidents.”

He further said, “These days, we do not measure anyone – who is working how much, who has a hold, whose booth loses and wins. We will now collect all this data. For example, if we win in Gujarat, ministers will be selected from the best-performing districts.”

Those who are developing the party will be empowered while those “wasting time” will be asked to keep themselves away from decision-making, Rahul said. “We are now giving a chance to those who are capable of leadership but at the same time there will be accountability too. We will keep checking your performance, whether district meetings are being held, you are attending those meetings or not. We will keep a track of it. Doors will be opened for those who are working. As for those who don’t work, doors are to be closed slowly in front of them,” he said.

Highlighting that there was zero female representation in the DCC as presidents, Rahul said that this is unacceptable and will be changed. “We have decided on a social balance where women will get space, along with representatives of every community, as district presidents,” he added.