Once bitten, twice shy, Congress moves with caution as it revamps UP unit

Sources in the party said that having once finalised the state committee, party senior leadership is now making attempts to accommodate senior leaders from the districts to the state committee, where there have been open resentment after the recent reshuffle.

At a time when political parties, including the ruling BJP as well as SP in opposition have launched different campaigns till the grass-root level, sources inform that Congress would take one more month to complete its re-organisation in the state as it is preparing the team, which would lead for 2027 Assembly elections in the state.

It may be mentioned that some of the district leaders have come out in open to protest against the newly made district or city heads. Some of the leaders from districts like Bahraich had even protested outside AICC in Delhi during the recently held meeting of district presidents with the National leadership.

“Party has taken on a very big task of revamping the entire units at a time as part of the experiment. All the district and city units were dissolved and reformed at a time and thus there are bound to be some resentment but efforts have been made to convince leaders to give opportunity to new leaders as well,” explained a party leader, adding, “Now as State Unit is being formed, attempt is being made to accommodate some of the prominent leaders from the districts, especially where there have been resentments. Further, like district units, even the State Unit would also see larger participation of SC, ST, OBC and women like the district units.”

Sources in the party inform that having earlier seen dominance of upper caste especially Brahmins in the district units, this time, attempt was made to increase the participation of SC, ST and OBCs and similar exercise is being done for the state unit as well.

“No major party programs are being undertaken right now because district units have recently been formed and the state unit is still to be revamped. Further, even frontal organisations would also see a revamp. After the entire exercise is completed, then the party programs would start,” said a senior party leader.

Party leaders inform that while it would take another fortnight to announce the new State Committee, it is likely to take another fortnight to complete the re-organisation of the frontal organisations after that thus it would take about another one month before the entire revamp of Congress is completed in UP.

Amidst scheduled changes at the state level, all eyes are also on whether UP would see a new state president or the state president would remain the same and experiments would be done at the level of Vice Presidents and zonal presidents like in the past, where representation would be given to different regions and castes.