By The Editor
About a year is left before next Lok Sabha Parliamentary elections will be held some time in February-March 2024 and as it is many parties are preparing with fresh vigour and energy. The Grand Old Party (GOP) which dominated the scene for many decades under leadership of Nehru family followed by Gandhis declined rapidly during last two parliamentary elections 2014 and 2019 and unless and until the Indian National Congress Party (INC) starts to reorganise unitedly and tirelessly it may further regress which may become more difficult for the party to survive in future. Besides, the Congress has lost many states to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaving only few in its grasp. With non-Gandhi Mallikarjun Kharge at its top post as President who has lots of experience, the party nurtures high hopes but Kharge (80) is handicapped by his age. In the mean time, Rahul Gandhi had undertaken Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir who was joined by many notable personalities from many states all along the way which boosted image of the GOP.
The Congress Steering Committee (CSC) on February 24 decided unanimously not to hold meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and instead authorised Kharge to nominate its members during the key meeting but skipped by members of the Gandhi family. One of the amendments to be introduced in party constitution is that in the CWC besides the president of the Congress and chairperson of Congress parliamentary party, Congress former prime ministers, leaders of Congress Party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and former presidents of the Congress party it shall be ensured that 50 per cent reservation be given to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Castes (OBCs), minorities , youth and women including senior citizens who are still active and capable. Similar reservations are also to be set aside in mandal, block, city, district and Pradesh Congress committees. Reports said that absence of the Gandhis from CSC was aimed at ensuring free and fair discussions.
Next step was desire of many in the party in finding ways and means for strengthening opposition unity which became priority during three-day plenary session February 24-26 in Raipur. It was informed that Congress has already taken initiatives in this direction by already having been in touch with various political parties. Many had expressed that opposition unity is of primary importance to fight unitedly against BJP in 2024 parliamentary elections and stressed that without Congress no opposition unity is possible. Congress general secretary, organization, K.C Venugopal said that success of Bharat Jodo Yatra has greatly enthused the party workers throughout the country. Congress heartily welcomes opposition parties with similar principles and ideologies for forging united front for coming assembly polls as well.