In first meet, Rahul seeks office-bearers’ frank views

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's meeting with party office-bearers Thursday elicited a range of suggestions from them, including implementation of one-man-one-post principle and a quick decision-making process.

AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh was said to have stated that there is "a state of asmanjas (suspense and confusion)" in the party about the impending organisational reshuffle and whatever decision has to be taken should be announced expeditiously.

Interestingly, Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is general secretary in charge of several states, stressed the need to implement one-man-one-post rule. He was learnt to have conceded that he is "unable to discharge" his duties as minister and general secretary properly. Azad said when he goes to the south (as party in charge of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), his ministry work suffers and vice-versa.

Party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi was said to have stated that the Congress used to go door-to-door to collect donations and even enrol members. Party workers used to hold prabhat pheris and were involved in mass agitation programmes. The party should, therefore, consider adopting this philosophy of old days, sources quoted Dwivedi as suggesting at the meeting.

Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, reportedly emphasised that party leaders have to work very hard to tackle organisational issues from top to grassroots levels.

Earlier, in his opening remarks at the meeting of office-bearers including CWC members and in-charge of states, AICC general secretaries and secretaries, Rahul asked them to give him free and frank opinion on how to strengthen the party, even as he instructed them not to talk about their suggestions after the meeting. After the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, during which 18 speakers gave their views, it was decided to continue the consultation process on Friday.

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