NEW DELHI: Amid the gathering gloom in Congress over the rout in five state elections, the dissident group G-23 has begun to push for organisational reforms and functioning of the organisation.
The grouping is likely to raise its concerns at the meeting of the Congress Working Committee that party chief Sonia Gandhi is set to convene soon. It had earlier demanded the appointment of new party president as well as institutional reforms and organisational polls at every rung of the organisation. Besides, they had sought an AICC session for elections to the CWC. Congress has already published a schedule for internal polls, which will end with the election of the party chief towards the year-end.
Importantly, the G23 is likely to push for the core committee of the CWC to discuss the results, as against the extended body that comprises permanent invitees and special invitees. The dissidents argue that a large gathering becomes a forum for attacking the “reformers” and preempts honest introspection.
Senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad met Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Manish Tewari at his residence on Friday evening, in what was dubbed as informal discussion on the results and the way ahead.
The AICC announced the decision on early CWC meeting to discuss the defeat immediately after the results on Thursday, which is seen as a bid to pre-empt any public commentary by party leaders apportioning blame on individuals and policies adopted.
The dissident leaders made light of the CWC meeting, lamenting that it was coming after the elections while the decision-making for polls was opaque and without consultation with experienced veterans.
There is also anger at the “non political advisers” around the leadership and the Gandhis. “There is a collective concern over the recent election results and the party needs a course correction to arrest the slide,” a G-23 leader said.
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