Rahul Gandhi on Monday wound up his three-day free and frank interaction with AICC office bearers promising to go by rules and coming out with a programme for rejuvenating the organisation.
The new Congress Vice President also stressed on the need for camaraderie among leaders as the exercise saw the office bearers slamming the existing ticket distribution system and work allocation pattern in the party as well as complaining that some leaders are promoted despite repeated failures.
As the complaints poured in, Rahul expressed a desire for holding such meetings at state level and, if possible, even with party workers at the district and block level.
Gandhi’s focus on implementing the rules came amid a string of complaints about performance being ignored in the party and that the organisation was not given importance by those in the government.
As several AICC secretaries complained of lack of work allocation and being ignored in the party, Gandhi also chose the occasion to stress that partymen must strike an emotional chord and treat the party as a family.
The third and final day of discussions heard fresh complaints that the government was ignoring the party, which prompted young minister Jitender Singh to suggest that Union Ministers should sit in AICC office for a day every month and talk to party leaders.
“The party is forgotten once its government is formed,” Haryana MP Avtar Singh Badhana said, ruing that those in the government ignore party wokers.
Hanumant Rao urged Rahul to take special efforts for developing leadership among SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities, saying they will be the backbone of the party in future.
He also told Gandhi that “you will definitely become Prime Minister in 2014…Your speech in Jaipur has instilled confidence among us.”
Sources said Gandhi told partymen he was happy that they spoke their mind and participated in the parleys with an open heart. He assured them that he will come out with a programme to rejuvenate the party.
