Heeding suggestions given by grassroots functionaries for reviving the Congress in Tamil Nadu, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik on Friday made it clear that all efforts would be made to strengthen the party in the State by involving the party’s local body functionaries as well.
“We will actively involve the party’s local body members in whatever capacity they are to strengthen the Congress in the State,” Mr. Wasnik, who is in charge of party’s affairs in Tamil Nadu, said.
Lending a patient hearing for over three hours at a State–level meeting with the elected local body representatives organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee here, Mr. Wasnik said the Congress would focus on discipline, ideological commitment and training to its workers.
The Centre had been allocating huge amount of funds for implementing welfare programmes in different sectors in rural and urban areas and the local body representatives of the Congress had a great job in publicising this information to the public, he said.
Stating that he had taken note of the suggestions put forth by the participants, Mr. Wasnik urged the TNCC to hold such meetings annually to gauge the public mood with respect to the party.
AICC secretary and MLA from Kerala V.D. Satheesan termed the meeting as only the beginning and added that the local body functionaries would get more opportunities to express their opinions and suggestions on State issues.
AICC secretary Chinna Reddy said he and Mr. Satheesan would soon visit every district and block in Tamil Nadu as part of an effort to improve the party’s position. TNCC president B.S. Gnanadesikan; Rajya Sabha member Mani Shankar Aiyar and AICC secretary Su. Thirunavukkarasar spoke.
