Sonia signals end to armchair functioning

AMETHI, NOV 4: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday firmly affirmed that the party's armchair functionaries will have to make way...

AMETHI, NOV 4: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday firmly affirmed that the party8217;s armchair functionaries will have to make way for those who worked hard and had their base in the masses.

Addressing party workers here, Gandhi said the party organisation needed to be revamped. She said important posts in the party were occupied by persons without mass base while sincere workers were relegated to the background.

While admitting that to reorganise the party was a challenging job and would take time, she said the work will be carried out at all costs. She also said that she would try her best to bring forward those who were hard working.

Sonia Gandhi said that because of organisational weakness, the party could not do well in the Lok Sabha elections in some states. The Congress president also stressed that women and youth should be associated with the party and given full chance to strengthen it.

She said the party will now have direct contact with the workers and give them their due. Theworkers would also have to understand their responsibility and bring forward the problems of the people.

Without mentioning the Bofors case, Gandhi said attempts were being made to tarnish the image of her family. 8220;But I am not the person to lose courage and I will take up the challenge with all firmness,8221; she asserted.

Sonia Gandhi said the reports of the committees on Lok Sabha poll performance of the party will be thoroughly reviewed and action taken as per the conclusion.

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She said a comprehensive action plan would be chalked out for development of Amethi, and priority would be given to health education and construction of link roads. She added that she has an emotional bond with Amethi because of her family8217;s association with the constituency. 8220;I would do anything for Amethi to realise the dreams of Rajiv Gandhi,8221; she added.

Sonia Gandhi expressed her gratitude to the voters of Amethi for their support and assured them that Priyanka Gandhi would soon tour the constituency to get first handinformation about their problems. In his brief speech on the occasion, former union minister and MP Captain Satish Sharma criticised the inclusion of late Rajiv Gandhi8217;s name in the Bofors charge sheet. This has been done for political reasons, he said.

He said the party would wait till November 19, the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, for exclusion of Rajiv Gandhi8217;s name from the Bofors charge sheet, otherwise a nationwide agitation would be launched in this connection. The agitation would begin from Sultanpur.

Later, Gandhi addressed the meeting of Salon Assembly segment party workers. She was given warm welcome by party workers at various places in the constituency.