‘Forget past, stand united, reach out to workers & focus on polls’: Ramesh Chennithala

What is your opinion of Maharashtra Congress’s organisational strength?

The party here is very strong. The Congress workers of Maharashtra are extremely dedicated workers. Only thing is that we need to have programme-oriented work. This is our task, considering the importance of 2024, when the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be taking place. My duty is to encourage party workers and bring everyone together and strengthen the organisation at the ground level. We have already started that work.

Is Maharashtra Congress facing an organisational problem?

No. There will be some problems in every state. But when compared to other states in the country, Maharashtra Congress has a bigger strength. I don’t find any problem in strengthening the party here. But for that we have to go to the masses, to the people. Maharashtra, has a Congress legacy. People have loved and supported Congress, Gandhi family and our leaders. We must channelise this legacy by going to the masses.

What is your plan to strengthen the organisation?

My first objective is to strengthen the party organisation up to the grassroots. After our first meeting in Mumbai, I will be visiting six divisions with all senior leaders to meet workers and leaders. It will showcase the unity within the party throughout the state. If Congress is united and everybody works together, Maharashtra will give us majority of the seats in parliamentary elections. As far as I know, whatever was the dispute within Maharashtra Congress, has been settled now as everybody has realised the importance of the situation. Forget the past, stand united, reach out to workers and focus on polls.

What makes you so confident about Maharashtra?

The present ruling coalition in Maharashtra is ‘Adharmik’ (unethical). This government is formed by defection and not elected by the people. The people of Maharashtra are democratic and they have not liked this arrangement. The people of Karnataka rejected exactly the similar kind of arrangement and gave a thumping majority to Congress. The people will give a befitting reply.

Why is it that the central leadership is neglecting the state by delayed appointment of party in-charge?

Our previous in-charge H K Patil was handling the party matters despite becoming the minister. There was no delay in any manner. Now, with new structure of CWC and office-bearers, there were appointments and now everything is fine.

With splits in your two allies in Maharashtra and their successive weakening, will Congress lead the Maha Vikas Aghadi?

We will be fighting this election as a coalition and everybody is equal. That is ‘coalition dharma’ and we give more importance to ‘coalition dharma.’ We will carry everybody, all secular and like-minded parties. Our main objective is to win and INDIA front should come to power. I will definitely be meeting Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, at the right time.

How many seats will you be contesting in Maharashtra?

The only criteria for seat-sharing is winnability. Nothing else. We have held the first meeting as of now in a conducive environment. Everybody wanted to win elections. There will not be much of a problem. Number will be decided through negotiations. The number will be finalised after the next round of discussions, but we have not set a particular deadline for this. We will do it at the earliest.

Are you going to ask senior party leaders to contest Lok Sabha polls?

That has to be decided by state and central election committees. Who will contest from where will be decided after finalisation of seat-sharing arrangement.

Will a member of Gandhi family contest from Maharashtra?

I cannot decide this. The high command will take a call on this.