In an effort to revive the Congress party at the grassroot level, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi started a new procedure to select workers to lead the party at the gram panchayat and nyaya panchayat levels in his constituency of Amethi. On Friday, he addressed his new team of 728 village panchayat leaders, 126 nyaya panchayat leaders and 16 presidents of block level committees.Launched about three months back, Rahul’s “Sangathan Punargathan Prakriya” stipulated that party workers would have to face interviews in order to lead the gram panchayat and nyaya panchayat units. He also ensured proper representation to the backward sections and SCs. Party sources said the model may be replicated all over the country. “Earlier the party had strong supporters among the upper caste voters. But Rahul wants to ensure representation of almost every caste. So he adopted a new process for the selection of leaders at the grassroots level,” said a Congress leader who attended today’s meeting.According to sources, Rahul first asked the block level committees to recommend names of workers to lead the party at the nyaya panchayat level. “The party provided a form to the candidates, seeking information, like the history of their association with Congress, their educational qualification, their caste etc. Then Rahul sent teams from Delhi to interview the candidates,” said a party worker from Pindara village. The same process was adopted to select leaders for the village panchayat level committees. Rahul told the village level leaders to select individuals who can head a group of 50 houses each. “It means one party worker for every 50 houses. His job will be to take the problems of this group of 50 houses before Rahul through the party’s office at the district level. Rahul’s idea is to develop mass contact with the voters through these committees,” said a party leader.
