Cong introspection meet in Udaipur, likely on May 13-15

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19

Days after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said the road ahead for the party was tougher than ever, the party is likely to hold an introspection meeting of senior leaders at Udaipur in May.

The likely dates for the “chintan shivir” are May 13 to 15, sources say, adding the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body, would approve the final schedule soon. Sources say more than 400 leaders are expected to congregate in Rajasthan’s Udaipur.

On March 13, the CWC had taken note of the party’s embarrassing electoral losses in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

Unanimously reaffirming its faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the CWC requested her to lead from the front, address the organisational weaknesses, and effect necessary and comprehensive organisational changes to take on the political challenges. The CWC had resolved to hold the introspection meeting.

The meeting will discuss the reasons for the party’s recent electoral losses and what needs to be done to make it battle-ready for the Assembly polls in 2022 and 2023 and the 2024 General Election. The CWC had earlier acknowledged that the losses were a result of “shortcomings in strategy”.

Addressing the Congress parliamentary party recently, Sonia Gandhi had said, “The road ahead is more challenging than ever before. Our dedication and determination, our spirit of resilience is under severe test. Unity at all levels of our vast organisation is of paramount importance and speaking for myself, I am determined to do whatever is needed to ensure it. Our revival is not just a matter of importance to us alone —it is, in fact, essential for our democracy itself and society as well.”

Over 400 leaders to attend meeting

• AICC sources say more than 400 leaders expected to congregate in Udaipur for the meeting
• The meeting will discuss reasons for the party’s recent poll losses and the roadmap for forthcoming elections
• The CWC had earlier acknowledged that the losses were a result of ‘shortcomings in strategy’

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