Congress pads up for 2024 amid suspense over Prashant Kishor’s entry

The Congress on Monday (April 25) announced that an “Empowered Action Group-2024” will be constituted to address the political challenges ahead and a ‘Chintan Shivir’ will be organised in Rajasthan’s Udaipur from May 13-15 to deliberate on organisational restructuring and other issues to strengthen the party.

Asked if there was any decision on poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s induction into the party, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala did not give a direct reply, saying the “Empowered Action Group-2024” will be formed and it will be known who all will be part of it.

The group will look into various aspects, including public outreach programmes, agitations, organisational deficiencies, pre-poll alliances as well as suggestions made by Prashant Kishor.

Speaking to reporters outside Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence in Delhi, Surjewala said the party president received a report from the eight-member group constituted by her on April 21.

“Today she discussed that report with the group. Based on the discussions, the Congress president has decided to constitute an Empowered Action Group-2024 in order to address the political challenges ahead,” he said.

Surjewala also announced the Congress president’s decision to convene the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of the’ Indian National Congress ‘Nav Sankalp’ in Udaipur on May 13, 14 and 15.

Also read: Prashant Kishor’s Congress entry plan layered with too many ifs and buts

About 400 Congressmen and women from every state will participate, he said.

Surjewala said the focus of the deliberations at the ‘Chintan Shivir’ will be on the current political and economic situation and the challenges they pose to our society. In addition to setting up a committee on farmers and agriculture, Sonia Gandhi constituted panels to prepare discussion papers for the ‘Chintan Shivir’ on social empowerment, economy and  political issues.

Dissidents from the G-23 such as Ghulam Nabi, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor and Bhupinder Hooda have been accommodated in the six panels. The panels are: 1. Farmers and agriculture. 2. Economy 3. Political challenges 4. Social empowerment 5. Youth, 6. Organisation.

Issues relating to the welfare and well-being of farmers and farm labourers, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, religious and linguistic minorities and women, social justice and empowerment and youth will also be discussed in detail, he said.

“In addition, matters relating to organisational restructuring and strengthening will be examined. The ‘Chintan Shivir’ will also deliberate on the broad strategy of the Indian National Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” Surjewala said.

Amid a series of deliberations over the strategy for upcoming general and assembly elections by Kishor, a group of senior leaders of the Congress had given its recommendations to the party president and left it to her to take a call on them and initiate organisational changes.

(With inputs from agencies)