Congress Leaders To Participate In 'Chintan Shivir' To Brainstorm On Electoral Defeat

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have already offered to host the camp in their respective states.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi (File photo: AFP)

New Delhi: After the party's humiliating defeat in the recent assembly elections in five states, top Congress leaders will soon attend a 'Chintan Shivir' to deliberate on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level and tackling new challenges, as reported by news agency PTI.

Sources said that Congress has called a meeting of its general secretaries and in-charges on Tuesday to draw a blueprint for the preparations for this conference. This contemplation camp is likely to be held in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have already offered to host the camp in their respective states. In such a situation, being close to the national capital, the party leadership can organise a conference in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

After the defeat in the assembly elections in five states, the party leadership had to face demands for a drastic change in the organisation, and during the Congress Working Committee meeting held in the meantime, another meeting of the CWC was held after the Parliament session as well as a meeting of the Chintan Shivir. It was decided to finalise the details.

During this camp, discussions will be held to draw a strategic roadmap to do well in the future elections, taking lessons from the electoral defeat as the Congress currently has governments in only two states - Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are in power. It is an ally in the ruling coalition in Jharkhand.

Sources said the Congress leadership wants each leader to openly discuss the shortcomings in the organisation and the ways to improve it, to help spread the party's ideology and how it should perform better in the upcoming elections.

The Congress is already grappling with the challenges posed by the 'G-23' group leaders and Congress President Sonia Gandhi has already asked them to raise their grievances on the party's platform like the upcoming Chintan Shivir, so that they are resolved. 

Sources said that Sonia Gandhi's aim is to bring unity at all levels in the party, which she has emphasized several times in her interactions with the leaders.

(With PTI inputs)