The two-day Congress chintan shivir beginning here from Friday is being held at a time when civil society is emerging as more of a potential threat to the party rather than political adversaries because civil society groups have brought the issues of governance, welfare state and corruption to the fore while political parties believe caste, regional issues and communalism will remain the trump cards in elections.
The timing of its brain-storming session is significant.
The meet is different in letter and spirit from the FDI rally and samvad baithak (dialogue meeting between party and government) it held in the last two months. The chintan shivir is going to be a larger exercise to win over civil society by playing the “stability” card, seeking the support of the anti-BJP regional parties by assuring them they will be accommodated in power and to attract youth.
The Congress is not worried about the divided regional parties, whose leaders are aspiring to become Prime Minister. “Such a government will not last more than two years,” a Union minister predicted.
But corruption, price rise, governance and gender violence have put the Congress party and its governments in the dock. The chintan shivir and a one-day AICC meeting here on Sunday will have to come out with a convincing position.