Projection of caste leaders to check caste-based parties, check chief ministers emerging more powerful than the party and asking Union ministers to sit in the AICC headquarters here at least once a month. These were some of the suggestions made before Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at a meeting of the AICC secretaries held here on Monday.
Mr Gandhi had earlier interacted with the AICC general secretaries, CWC members in-charge of different states and some AICC secretaries. This was the third round of consultations in this series. Of the 25 members, 14 spoke at the meeting.
According to sources, some members drew Mr Gandhi’s attention to how the Samajwadi Party, BSP, DMK, RJD have weakened the Congress’ support-base among backward castes. “Some of them are our allies and supporting parties. Our votes are transferable but their votes are not,” a member pointed out.
Promotion and projection of backward caste leaders will certainly help the Congress in regaining lost ground, he felt.
Another member said the Congress becomes weak whenever it comes to power.
Chief ministers are promoting their sons and relatives, some times they become more powerful than the party, he said and pointed out how they had tried to defeat him in the election.
A member suggested the young Gandhi to call a meeting of senior Karnataka leaders to tell that “they will have to deliver” in the coming state Assembly elections.
The Congress is going to win the electoral battle provided the seniors work together.
Mr Gandhi once intervened in the meeting. He wanted to extend the consultation process to the PCC, district and bloc level.