Chintan Shivir shouldn't be a ritual, should herald restructured organisation: Sonia Gandhi

Gandhi said around 400 Congress members will be attending the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur from May 13 to 15

Expressing confidence that the Chintan Shivir in Udaipur will herald a "restructured organisation", Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said the party that has been "good to each and everyone of us" is at a "crucial juncture" and it expects "total allegiance".

Addressing the Congress Working Committee ahead of the brainstorming session starting May 13, which she noted should “not be a ritual”, Sonia repeated that there is no "magic wand" to revive the party but reminded leaders that it is "imperative" that they "step forward and repay our debt to the party in full measure".

She welcomed self-criticism in party fora but warned against using it in a manner that “erodes self-confidence and morale” leading to an atmosphere of “gloom and doom”. On the contrary, she said, we are beholden to put our heads together and together, collectively overcome the challenges that face us.

At the ‘Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir’, the fourth since 1998, that will be attended by 422 leaders, Sonia sought “full cooperation” in ensuring that the “single overriding message that goes forth loud and clear” should be “one of unity, cohesion, determination and commitment to our party’s accelerated revival”.

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Emphasising that there are “no magic wands”, she said only with selfless work, discipline and a sense of consistent collective purpose that we will demonstrate our tenacity and resilience.

“The party has been central to the life of each and every one of us. It has expected our total allegiance and has been good to each and every one of us. Now, when we are at a crucial juncture, it is imperative that we step forward and repay our debt to the party in full measure,” she said.

“Self-criticism is of course needed in our party forums. But this should not be done in a manner that erodes self-confidence and morale and an atmosphere of gloom and doom prevails. To the contrary, we are beholden to put our heads together and together, collectively overcome the challenges that face us,” she said.

Setting the tone of the meeting, she said, the session does “not become a ritual, something we must just get through. I am determined that it should herald a restructured organisation to meet the many ideological, electoral and managerial tasks we confront”.

The session will be in six segments taking up political, economic, social justice, farmers, youth and organisational issues. On the afternoon of May 15, the session will adopt the Udaipur Nav Sankalp.

At a press conference to brief about the CWC deliberations, senior leaders Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Surjewala said 50 per cent of the delegates will be in the age group of less than 50 per cent while 21 per cent will be women. Surjewala said the CWC has accepted an amendment to the party constitution to allow digital membership and forming its territorial wing in Ladakh.

About the Udaipur conclave, Ramesh said, “The Chintan Shivir is not the destination but the beginning of a long journey. It will provide a plan for the organisation. This is a political Chintan Shivir. It is not for drafting a manifesto but to prepare an action plan to strengthen the party.”