DANDIYA RAAS DANCERS welcomed the delegates of the All India Congress Committee session at the entrance of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad. The lively rhythm of the Gujarati folk dance suited the party’s ambitious plans for a resurgence, especially in the state where it has been out of power for three decades.
The last AICC session Gujarat was in Bhavnagar in 1961, when Jawaharlal Nehru was prime minister and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy the party president. As the Congress returned to Gujarat after 64 years, it was an emotional moment for many state leaders. The enthusiasm with which they took care of the arrangements gave a clear indication of what it meant to them.
As the meeting commenced with around 150 members of the extended Congress Working Committee, party president Mallikarjun Kharge set the mood. “I may not live for 100 years,” said Kharge, 82. “But I will live for another ten―after that, you’ll have to manage the affairs.” The remark drew smiles from everyone in the room, and probably evoked a thought or two about the future of the 140-year-old party.
Rahul Gandhi seemed to have a clear plan for its near future, as he steered the discussion towards picking up issues that focus on hardships faced by the common man under the BJP government, regardless of region, religion or caste.
The discussion stood out for the clarity it seemed to have brought. Many leaders who attended the discussion mentioned the shift in his tone, and a sharper alignment to the party’s secular values and priorities. “Rahul looked more firm on implementing the discussed ideas,” said a leader.
Following a flurry of ideological discussions, caste emerged as another key thread, with many leaders highlighting the need for proportionate representation as a structural commitment.
In another moment that drew nods from many in the room, Rahul pointed out another imbalance: gender. Apparently, he glanced around the table and commented on the visible absence of women in the room. A hint that the Congress’s promise of inclusivity must begin at its own table.
Another matter thoroughly deliberated was a comprehensive organisational overhaul. General secretary K.C. Venugopal said the party was committed to an overhaul this year. “We are planning a major organisational reshuffle, and clear guidelines will be issued for the process. Our general secretaries and in-charges are actively working on it,” he said.
That the organisational overhaul needs to go hand in hand with tapping the pulse on the ground was a common refrain in the discussions. Everything from educational policies to the unstable economy was discussed, and Rahul urged party leaders to put on their thinking caps on and suggest the way ahead. Many leaders felt that some of these challenges that the BJP government faced could provide a tailwind to the Congress’s revival.
By choosing Gujarat for the session and aligning it with the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress presidency and Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, the party made a symbolic power move―reclaim its lost ground in the BJP’s heartland. Gujarat isn’t just another state―it is the BJP’s fortress and the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Every member in the meeting was given a book on Sardar Patel. Throughout the BJP’s political ascent since the 2014 Lok Sabha victory, its narrative has sought to undermine the Congress’s roots by marginalising Nehru’s legacy, often positioning him in contrast to Patel. The BJP champions Patel as a more deserving leader and claims he was undervalued in the Congress. By recapturing the legacy of Patel, a political titan who played a significant role in shaping the party, can the Congress find its footing again in Gujarat? This question was on everybody’s mind even as the charged atmosphere found leaders focusing on the present-day challenges facing the party.
The runway ahead is anything but smooth. The numbers tell the stark reality: Congress managed to win just one of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat in 2024 and continues to bleed votes with the AAP nibbling at its base.
But Rahul seems to have an aggressive plan. His recent visits to the state have energised the rank and file, and his blunt criticism that some Congress leaders were “conniving with the BJP” marks a shift from the usual business―from vague moral posturing to direct political confrontation.
For now, expectations have risen on addressing the many long-pending decisions regarding organisational appointments. What is being expected is improving the party’s management affairs and command structure to give it the political ammunition to prepare for the upcoming battles against the BJP. However, reclaiming Patel’s legacy seems a tougher battle. Then there is the perception battle to be won against the BJP. Bharat Jodo Yatra did the trick to an extent, and also created a benchmark. But how will the party get back Patel on its side?