For the first time in over six decades, the Congress is holding its All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Gujarat, a symbolic and strategic move as the party attempts to recharge its organisational machinery amid back-to-back election setbacks. The two-day session in Ahmedabad, starting Tuesday, will see top party leaders congregate to discuss the road ahead, address internal challenges, and possibly inject fresh energy into a demoralised cadre. While expectations are modest, the party hopes to use the session to rebuild momentum and reassert its ideological legacy.
Historic Return to Gujarat
This marks Congress’s first AICC session in the state since 1961, when the last was held in Bhavnagar. The extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet at the Sardar Patel Memorial on Tuesday, followed by the main AICC meeting on Wednesday along the banks of the Sabarmati River, between Sabarmati and Kochrab Ashrams. Leaders view this location choice as deliberate and symbolic, evoking the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sources say the party will also roll out key announcements aimed at organisational overhaul, including enhanced powers for district Congress presidents and stricter accountability measures.
Resolutions and Strategic Planning
A set of crucial resolutions is expected to be adopted, addressing pressing national issues such as inflation, unemployment, farmer concerns, economic distress, and social justice. The party is also likely to target what it calls “attacks on the Constitution” and growing religious polarisation. A special drafting committee, led by Randeep Surjewala, has been preparing a document to be presented to the CWC. The leadership will decide whether to present one comprehensive resolution or several on specific topics.
While senior leaders will underline Congress’s historic role in banning the RSS post-Gandhi’s assassination, the meeting is also designed to highlight ideological contrasts with the BJP, particularly from a region associated with both Gandhi and Patel. This gathering follows the recent CWC meet in Belagavi, which coincided with the 100th anniversary of a session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi, underscoring Congress’s efforts to draw from its independence-era identity.
Despite the symbolism, some within the party remain skeptical about the session yielding significant change. However, they concede that a unified gathering and a reaffirmation of core principles may provide a much-needed morale boost for the struggling party ahead of upcoming state elections.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to host Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum in Delhi on Tuesday. The Crown Prince will engage with key Indian leaders, including the External Affairs and Defence Ministers, to strengthen strategic and economic ties under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also in Jammu and Kashmir to assess security and development initiatives.
