Congress 'Chintan Shivir': will warring factions unite for main Opposition slot amid 3rd front threat

Ahead of its brainstorming conclave in Udaipur, the Congress asserted on Thursday that it was the principal opposition party but was conscious of its 'shortcomings' and was ready to 'transform' itself by working on its ideology and organisation.

The party said it would introspect in the next three days to embark on a new direction by confronting various challenges and pave the way for the country's bright future.

The three-day 'Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir' is being held in the backdrop of a string of electoral defeats and dissent in the party which has seen a sharp decline in the last seven years.

The Shivir will focus on time-bound party restructuring, finding ways to combat politics of polarisation and getting battle-ready for upcoming electoral challenges.

"The Congress has chosen six subjects and constituted groups to examine and submit their primary reports on actionables for the same," he said.

These groups are political, social justice and empowerment, economy, Congress organisation, Kisan and Khet Mazdoor (farmers and farm workers) and youth. These groups will present their first impressions for a conclusive discussion during the Shivir.

"The 450 invitees to the 'Chintan Shivir' will be divided amongst different groups and they shall discuss and deliberate over a period of three days, various facets and challenges, to lay down a roadmap.

"The conclusions shall be presented to the Congress president, and thereafter, to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), for final shape and approval," Surjewala said.

The roadmap will provide a way forward not only for the Congress to meet up with the current set of 'reverses and challenges', but will also pave the way for a resilient, strong and inclusive nation, he said.

Sending out a clear message to critics within the organisation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a CWC meeting earlier this week cautioned ahead of the session that self-criticism is needed in party forums but it should not be done to erode self-confidence and morale, as she asserted that it is time "to repay our debt to the party".

Gandhi had also warned that the 'Chintan Shivir' should not become a ritual while asserting that she was determined that it should herald a restructured organisation to meet the many ideological, electoral and managerial tasks it confronts.