Congress plans grassroots revival, to fall back on Gandhi

It has prepared a blueprint for its revival at the grassroots level, which recommends a range of activities — from sports to cultural — to woo the youth to “Gandhi March” in every district of the country to mobilise people and explain the party’s stance on issues like POTA, Sethusamudram project and even Afzal Guru case.

There is also a proposal to form Social Action Groups, consisting of “local intellectuals with secular outlook”, to take on the BJP on communal issues. This group will organise “discussions, talks, brainstorming sessions, debates, publications of articles in local media, penal discussions in local channels”, according to party sources.

AICC media cell chairperson M Veerappa Moily confirmed the plans. “In fact,

we are implementing it in Andhra Pradesh. We will also launch Gandhi March in Assam from October 2,” he said.

The party plans to convert Gandhi March into a massive mass mobilisation campaign, organising interactive theatres, songs, speeches, wall writing, pamphlet distribution and public meetings. At least two-three educated persons will be selected in every gram panchayat to “form public opinion and provide correct information on various issues”. The criteria for the selection of gram panchayat-level workers include, among other things, “preferably graduates”, “below 30 years of age”, and “should not be aspiring for salaried jobs”, says the document. They will be given three-day “residential training” by the party.

District/block committees are proposed to have a cell to stage protests and agitation programmes on issues like dowry deaths, harassment of women, Dalits and weaker sections, road, education and electricity. There is also a proposal to organise activities for children, including essay writing, debate, story telling, cultural and sports activities, tuitions and coaching.