The Gujarat Congress is in a revival mode by focusing on infrastructure, unity and infusion of new cadres into the party ranks, ahead of the 2012 State Assembly polls where they have to fight the formidable Narendra Modi-led BJP.
The state of affairs for the Congress is very bad in Gujarat due to various reasons which primarily include constant defeat in the State Assembly elections for the last 20 years, a party leader said.
Congress this time has decided to work from grassroots to take on the Chief Minister, Mr Modi, who has a mass appeal in the state. The recent win in the newly-formed Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has given much needed relief to the party which had earlier lost elections in six municipal corporations.
“When I took over as president two months ago, out of the 26 districts of the state the party had offices in just five, while out of 224 talukas, we had offices in just 60,” the State Congress President, Mr Arjun Modhvadia, told PTI.
“Earlier, we used to have offices in all the districts and talukas. But, now the state of affairs is alarming. Where will people come if the Congress does not have offices at district and taluka levels,” he said.
Mr Modhvadia said he will ensure that the party has offices at all the districts as well as taluka levels before June. “It is very important to have proper infrastructure at talukas as well as districts for the party’s future,” he said.
Another Congress leader said due to lack of party offices, individual leaders of the district and taluks used to operate from their own offices in many places which led to differences between local leaders.