It was on July 3, 2019, when the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi in his four-page resignation letter had stated, "Rebuilding the party requires hard decisions."
This sums up what lies in store as far as organisational changes in the Congress are concerned.
On October 26, 2022, when Mallikarjun Kharge took charge of the party as its president, he acknowledged that, "Despite our 137-year history and sacrifices of our leaders, voters are upset with the party." Kharge quickly added while thanking Rahul Gandhi, "for leading Bharat Jodo Yatra an attempt to reconnect with public."
According to party insiders, the Congress is all set to conduct not merely cosmetic changes, but a full-fledged surgery to revamp the party.
While talking to a news channel, AICC Kerala in-charge Tariq Anwar said, "We have made a formula and as per that formula we will slowly but steadily revamp the party. After Bharat Jodo Yatra ends, a new version of Congress will be seen."
Rajesh Lilothia, chairman of the AICC's Scheduled Castes Department, told India Today TV that the party is gearing up for a complete overhaul on several fronts.
"Keeping our opponents in mind, we made our (future) strategy. The way they fight election in a planned way, so we are also ready. Election fighting mechanism will also change totally. There will be a total revamp. There is no alternative to Congress party," said Lilothia.
The AICC plenary session will be held after Bharat Jodo Yatra ends in February 2023. In this session, more than 9,000 delegates along with top brass of the party will brainstorm the next course of action for the party. However, the basic blueprint for "Forward Action Plan" will be the Udaipur Chintan Shivir.
Terming 'Udaipur Chintan Shivir Declaration' as an interesting resolution, Lilothia stated, "Through Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has emerged as 'Jan Nayaka'. After the Yatra ends, he will share his new concept and inputs with the party. AICC Plenary session would be interesting. Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi is a very good combination. After AICC plenary session, we will go forward with new faces, new resolution, new ideas, new technology, new methods."
According to sources, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has already asked for detailed reports about the performance of each state units, departments and frontal organisations of the party. Also, instructions have been given to keep a day-to-day documentation of each and every activity in Pradesh Committee.
Top sources revealed that there are three key areas that will be the primary focus: organisation, communication, and resources.
The top sources further added that there will be structural changes that will be made in the Congress organisation. "Around six new departments including Election Management; Public Insight dept; training; performance assessment will be there. There is also contemplation going on to introduce "vertical formula" in some areas in the organisation. This will add a more 'professional zing' to 137-year-old party."
One general secretary remarked, "The party's top leadership understands and have acknowledged that hard decisions have to be taken in order to revive the party."
When then Congress President Sonia Gandhi said in her address at Udaipur Chintan Shivir that "yeh party ka karz chukane ka samay (It's time to pay the party its due)" the message was loud and clear for party leaders and workers that individual interests would have to take a backseat and the organization -- Congress -- will be "supreme".
The same message echoed when Rahul Gandhi declared that, "This is Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra and he too along with thousands of Congress leaders and workers is walking from Kanyakumari to Kashmir."
According to top sources, Congress party will move from a leader- or individual-centric focus to organisation-centric approach.
"Focus will be to strengthen the organisation right from grassroots to top level. The Congress organisation is the top priority, individual interest have to take a back seat in the interest of party," said a CWC member.
In May 2022, the Congress held a three-day-long brainstorming session in Udaipur and finally came up with a declaration which pointed towards the direction in which the party will head. Kharge, too, after taking charge as Congress President in his maiden speech at AICC headquarters had stated that the Udaipur Declaration will be implemented to the hilt.
Tariq Anwar said, "After Kharge ji became president, he started the work to revamp the party. We took some very significant decisions at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir. So how those will be implemented, Kharge ji has started working in that direction too. The new president will make a new team and ensure that these key decisions are implemented."
Rajesh Lilothia said the blueprint of infusing new, youthful energy to the party and overhauling it was devised at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir. "Whether it is leadership development mission, training programs, new departments, brining in new faces, the work has already started on implementation of Udaipur Declaration," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)