Congress party flags
NEW DELHI: Reeling from fluctuating political fortunes, Congress has decided to intensify political and ideological education for workers down to the lowest rung of the organisation, even as it looks for electoral victories to revive the mood that prevailed in the immediate wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results.It is learnt that Congress has decided to institutionalise internal “training” by setting up “training departments” in all the states. They would be helmed by three key people that the party believes have the seniority, understanding of the Congress organisation and ideological commitment to carry out education for the cadre.Interestingly, the party is looking to focus on the lower rungs of workers for training—district, block and mandal level—where the departments will conduct regular training sessions through structured programmes for workers and office-bearers.Though the move appears odd, it seems to be in line with the decision of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to empower the District Congress Committees (DCC) through centrally directed appointments of DCC presidents via the “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan”.The focus of the training would be “political education, ideological clarity and organisational discipline”. As per a directive sent by the AICC to state units, “In the present political context, it has become imperative to strengthen the party’s internal training mechanisms so as to build informed, committed, and capable cadres at all levels.” According to the blueprint, the subjects of training would be educating workers about “Congress ideology and values,” “history of the Congress and its role in nation-building,” “building understanding of the party organisation, structure, and functioning,” and “clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and conduct expected of political functionaries and office bearers”.Just as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been stressing the ideological battle with BJP for many years, the AICC “training department” is headed by his confidant Sachin Rao who is a strong votary of political education of workers. He has also been the brain behind some fellowships that Congress has launched. Rao has lately been holding training camps with the newly nominated district presidents in states under the “Srijan” process.Meanwhile, amid the legal woes created for the party by rivals led by the BJP, Congress is shortlisting five good lawyers linked to it in every state who can take up their cause in courts at quick notice. The initiative, to be called “Rapid Response Force,” is led by AICC’s legal, human rights, and RTI department, chaired by Abhishek Singhvi. The AICC department has also begun the process of finalising five names in every district across the country to run its state units.
