The Congress will hold its plenary session from March 16 to 18 in Delhi, with the main object on agenda being the ratification of the election of Rahul Gandhi as party president. The meeting also assumes significance since Rahul will use the occasion to unveil his vision for the party and his plans on how to revive it and make it battle ready for the coming round of elections, especially the Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in 2019.
The Congress Working Committee, which as per norms of the party has turned into a steering committee for the plenary session, met on Saturday to decide the dates and venue of the convention.
Addressing the meeting of the steering committee, Rahul gave an indication into what changes can be expected in the Congress under him. He said the composition of the AICC should be a harmonious blend of the experience of senior leaders and the vitality and dynamism of the youth.
He emphasised upon increasing representation in the hierarchy of the Congress of women and members belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. “This must be considered sacrosanct, and a first priority,” he told the meeting.
Underlining the main issues that the party needs to take up in its attacks on the Modi government, he said of foremost importance at present are the issues of jobless growth and agrarian crisis.
He said the plenary session would attempt to absorb the view of Congress members from all over the country, and include them in the party's plan of action for the future. “The Congress will put across a way forward on the problems the party faces,” Rahul said at the meeting. He also emphasised on the party putting across a new vision, a new way forward, and put more focus on the Congress' ideology with a renewed vigour.
