At first Congress meeting after reshuffle, party chief’s message: Promote those who stick around in adverse times

This was the first meeting of general secretaries and in-charges after a recent reshuffle within the party. The Congress had Friday implemented a major organisational shakeup that bore Gandhi’s imprint.

The reshuffle was seen to be a reflection of his social justice pitch for the inclusion of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities in the institutions and power structures of the country.

Briefing the general secretaries and in-charges, Kharge said it was their responsibility to “make the organisation strong from state headquarters to the booth level as soon as possible”.

“You will have to go to the booth yourselves, work hard and interact with the workers. Our frontal cells have to be involved. I especially want to say about INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress) — they are an important part of us, involve them also in building the organisation,” said Kharge.

He also told office-bearers that it is only at the grassroots that they will “be able to connect new people” to the party. “You will be able to bring trustworthy and strong people with you,” Kharge said.

Kharge said that the office-bearers of the party should “bring people who have so far not got a chance” within the party and can be useful.

“We should promote such people committed to the ideology of the Congress party who stand with us like a rock even in adverse circumstances,” said Kharge during his address to the office bearers.

He said that on some occasions, people are inducted into the party in a rush, but those who don’t have a strong ideological base end up deserting the Congress.

“All of you will be accountable for the organisation and future election results of the states under your charge,” Kharge told senior leaders.

He also mentioned the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and alleged that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, the country is “sending back Indian citizens in handcuffs like before”. “Vegetarian passengers were given non-veg food. Our government also failed to protest properly against this insult,” claimed Kharge.