Rahul lends ear to grass-roots leaders

Thursday, 11/10/2012

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121011/punjab.htm#4

Amritsar : Stating that the Congress defeat in the state assembly elections had taken him by surprise, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said there was a need to introspect as to what had gone wrong.

Interacting with partymen here, Rahul said: "I have come here to find out as to what were the shortcomings in your state," amply hinting that he meant business.

During his first interaction with Congress workers in Punjab, Rahul reportedly chose to lend an ear to block-level leaders despite the fact that senior leaders, MPs, MLAs and PCC members were present there.The media was kept at bay during the programme.

Among the major factors listed by party activists for the poll debacle were wrong and delayed distribution of the party ticket, inaccessibility of the state leadership, the rebel factor and party infighting.

Some Congress workers complained that new entrants into the party fold were allotted the party ticket and party loyalists ignored. Others spoke of sabotage by those leaders who were denied the ticket.

At the end of the interaction, Rahul concluded that ticket allotment by senior leaders without taking grassroots workers like block presidents into confidence, delay in distribution of the party ticket and allotment of the ticket to the kith and kin of senior leaders were the main reasons for the party defeat.

He said he would convey the sentiments of the party workers to the party high command and submit a report in this regard. He also sought suggestions for strengthening the party organisation.

The interaction was an open house with MPs, MLAs, both sitting and former, district Congress chiefs and block party presidents in attendance. After Pradesh Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh welcomed the AICC general secretary, the latter threw the house open for any suggestions. Rahul picked the participants at random to take their suggestion or question. Only one MLA got the chance to interact with him, the rest being all block-level leaders. Later, the participants expressed satisfaction at the way the entire exercise was conducted. "It has come as a huge morale booster for us. Rahul gave us a chance to speak up, leaving out senior leaders present there," said a worker. Prominent among those present were Union Ministers Ambika Soni and Preneet Kaur, Punjab Congress affairs in charge Gulchain Singh Charak, CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar, Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa, MP Vijay Inder Singla and CWC members Jagmeet Brar and Mohinder Singh Kaypee. Later, Rahul held an interaction with Youth Congress activists. He asked them to build a strong cadre to meet future challenges. Congress MP Deepender Hooda gave his views on the FDI issue while Krishna Bairaguda spoke about the Congress' flagship programmes.