P Chidambaram advocates for younger leaders and fair elections in Congress' top decision-making body ahead of plenary session

 

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has called for greater inclusion of younger members and a more diverse representation within the party's decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC). In an interview with PTI, Chidambaram said half of the CWC's members should be elected according to the constitution of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). However, he also stated that he has learned there are issues regarding the strength of the electoral college that must be resolved by the party's poll panel. Chidambaram is a member of the steering committee currently functioning until the CWC is elected. He noted that the party's upcoming plenary session, set to take place in Raipur, will be held when the Lok Sabha elections are due in about 14 months. He expects the AICC to issue a document that will address the aspirations of the people for a peaceful, prosperous, and equitable country.

Chidambaram emphasised that the Congress must be the pole around which opposition unity in the 2024 Lok Sabha election can be built. He believes that all parties, including the Congress, must approach the task with a spirit of give-and-take and of humility. He said there is a growing realisation that the opposition parties must forge a united front in order to take on the BJP. He added that the Congress is the only national opposition party, and therefore, the only one capable of building such a coalition.

When asked about the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra, Chidambaram said that it has established Rahul Gandhi as a leader with grit, determination, and perseverance. He noted that it has challenged the hegemony that the BJP has sought to acquire through various means, and it has awakened the people to recognise that the country is faced with huge problems, economic and social. Chidambaram does not think that the Yatra was intended to reap narrow electoral gains.

Chidambaram is chairing the party's sub-group on economic affairs for the plenary session. He said that the starting point for the panel will be the current world economic situation and the current Indian economic situation. The Congress disagrees with the government's assessment of the economic situation and will draw extensively from the conclusions arrived at the Udaipur Conclave. Chidambaram has requested the Convenor of the sub-committee, Dr Gourabh Vallabh, to make a draft of the resolution.

Overall, Chidambaram's statements in the interview suggest that he is looking for a change in the Congress party's decision-making and a greater focus on younger leaders and diversity. He is also seeking greater unity among the opposition parties and sees the Congress as the key to building such a coalition. The party's upcoming plenary session will be critical in setting the agenda for the future of the Congress party and determining its role in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.