Pointing to the weak position of the Congress in some districts of Maharashtra, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday called for strengthening the party in the State. On his first visit to address party workers, Mr. Gandhi had a series of interactions with youth Congress members, block and district presidents, and elected representatives.
On Saturday, Mr. Gandhi will visit the drought-affected villages of Satara's Maan taluk.
Addressing elected representatives at the Indian Gymkhana in Matunga, Mr. Gandhi said: “We have a partnership with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We fight elections as a combined force, and we are running together. In Maharashtra, there are districts where the Congress is strong, but in some districts, we are weak. The focus has to be on areas where the party is weak. Take action against district presidents who don't work in the interest of the party,” he said.
Despite his assessment, he was confident of the party winning again in Maharashtra. The State is due for Assembly polls in 2014. “The Congress defeats itself. When we win, it's on our own account and when we lose, it's also on our own account. The Congress will definitely win again in Maharashtra. There is no problem in Mumbai and Maharashtra,” he said.
He said work on strengthening the party should continue regardless of its being in partnership (with the NCP). Mr. Gandhi said the “biggest drawback” of the Congress was that “those who put in work were ignored, while those didn't were promoted.” He called for better coordination between the Congress governments and the party. “Our governments complain of poor coordination between the party and the government. They both should work together. It's a partnership.”
He also called for a system in the party. “If we work arbitrarily, we won't have accountability. We need a good system and rules,” he said.
