Congress leaders, including Kharge and Rahul, met but failed to make decisions.
New Delhi: The Congress party has been having a tough time trying to strengthen its position and return to power. The party is once again set to brainstorm in April to reinforce its organization. Despite years of efforts to improve its structure from the central to state levels, progress remains limited to meetings. Internal conflicts in various states have weakened the organization, while central leadership struggles have further exacerbated the situation. As a result, state leaders have grown more powerful in the absence of strong central direction.
In Kerala, the rebellious stance of MP Shashi Tharoor has added to the party’s concerns, while several other states face even more dire challenges. These internal weaknesses have led to continuous electoral setbacks. Following its crushing defeat in Delhi, Congress leaders recently held a seven-hour-long marathon meeting at the new headquarters. However, no concrete solution emerged. It was then decided that an AICC meeting would be convened in Gujarat in the second week of April to enhance organizational efficiency.
However, skepticism remains over any substantial change, as those responsible for the party’s troubles are the ones making key decisions.
Additionally, Tharoor’s actions have complicated matters, potentially securing the position of Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal. His continued tenure suggests that the party’s functioning may remain unchanged.
Despite its efforts to signal decisive action, Congress appears trapped in a cycle of discussions without meaningful resolutions, raising doubts about its ability to revive itself effectively.
At the Congress meeting held at its new headquarters, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and all general secretaries engaged in discussions to strengthen the party but failed to reach any concrete decisions. No one was held accountable for the defeats in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, as the person responsible—KC Venugopal—was the one leading the meeting.
Following the discussions, media department head Jairam Ramesh issued a statement echoing previous claims that the party would take significant action. However, past resolutions, including the 2022 Udaipur declaration, have remained largely unimplemented. Despite repeated commitments to reform, little has changed within the party.
In his statement, Ramesh emphasized that the meeting aimed to strengthen the organization and develop a clear roadmap for future actions. However, the reality is that Congress has suffered consecutive losses in two general elections and multiple state elections over the last decade, yet the leadership has failed to hold anyone accountable.
The party’s organizational structure in most states is in a dire state, with even the influential Gandhi family unable to effect meaningful change. Despite continued discussions and assurances, Congress appears trapped in a cycle of inaction, raising serious concerns about its ability to revive itself and regain electoral ground.
The recent appointments in Haryana highlight the challenges Congress faces in asserting its authority. In Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has held the position of state president for an extended period, yet the high command is unable to take decisive action against him or the Hooda family in Haryana. Similar situations exist in multiple states where the central leadership holds little influence.
A glaring example of the party’s organizational weakness is Delhi, where it has struggled to appoint a permanent state president. Discussing the overall state of the organization would only reveal further dysfunction. This issue persists in Delhi itself, where the entire Gandhi family and party high command reside, making it even more concerning.
During the mid-February meeting, general secretaries and in-charges were directed to conduct special meetings in their respective states and finalize organizational appointments at the divisional level. However, there has been little accountability regarding how many meetings were actually held in the following weeks.
Adding to the concerns, last month in Belgaum, grand declarations were made about strengthening the organization. The party had resolved to launch nationwide campaigns like “Save Constitution” and “Jai Bhim,” to continue until January 26 next year. However, the leadership had to issue reminders for the campaign’s execution, as there was neither enthusiasm nor consensus within the party. Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on raising constitutional issues has largely remained confined to discussions, with no visible efforts on the ground.
Over the past three years, Congress’s organizational growth has seemingly been limited to internal meetings rather than real action. Following its crushing defeat in Uttar Pradesh, the party made grand statements about implementing the Udaipur resolution. After its loss in Haryana, a working committee meeting was convened to analyze the reasons for the setback, but no concrete steps followed.
Similarly, after the Maharashtra defeat, leaders gathered in Belgaum to strategize, only for those discussions to be forgotten upon returning to Delhi.
Now, after another heavy defeat in Delhi, senior leaders have once again assembled at the new headquarters, engaging in lengthy discussions. However, history suggests that without decisive action, these meetings will yield no substantial results.
If the Udaipur resolution had been implemented effectively, the Congress party might have been in a better position today. However, the resolution primarily served as an opportunity to praise the Gandhi family rather than bring real change. Meanwhile, MP Shashi Tharoor has stirred political discussions in Kerala at a crucial time. Tharoor, who previously contested for the post of Congress national president
A real transformation in the Congress organization would only be considered if National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal were removed from their positions. However, Kharge still has two and a half years left in his tenure, and since Rahul Gandhi is focusing on backward-class politics, he is unlikely to be replaced. On the other hand, Venugopal’s five-year tenure has seen Congress suffer two major Lok Sabha defeats and losses in key states, including Kerala. His leadership has weakened the party’s structure, and the influence of the high command in various states has declined significantly.
Many within the party blame Venugopal for these failures, citing his lack of accessibility and poor understanding of Hindi-speaking states due to language barriers. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi and the rest of the Gandhi family continue to trust him, believing he is the right person to manage the party. Venugopal is now considered more influential than Kharge, making him the fourth most powerful figure in Congress after Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi. Kharge comes in at fifth.
If Congress manages to win in Kerala, there is speculation that the Gandhi family may push Venugopal as the Chief Minister. However, if Tharoor insists on his claim for the position, it could create significant challenges for the party leadership. While Venugopal is expected to retain his position, Congress faces an uphill battle in securing a third consecutive victory in the state.
To address the growing concerns in Kerala, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge recently held a meeting with Kerala leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Priyanka Gandhi. The party’s situation in Kerala is not as strong as before, having lost two consecutive elections. Tharoor’s defiant stance so close to the elections is a worrying sign for Congress. Meanwhile, the BJP has been gaining ground in Kerala, while Congress continues to weaken.
Although Priyanka Gandhi may contest as an MP from Kerala, she does not have the political influence to turn things around single-handedly. Venugopal maintains a strong connection with the Gandhi family but lacks a firm grip on state politics. This mirrors Congress’s broader struggles at the national level—just as the party is facing difficulties at the center, it is also struggling to maintain control in Kerala.
Kerala remains one of the few states where Congress still holds some hope. However, internal conflicts, much like in other states, continue to pose a threat to its stability. Unless these issues are resolved, the party’s prospects for success will remain uncertain.