In his zeal to revitalise the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi is hoping to invoke the mantra of democracy to affect a radical overhaul in the way his party works.
NEW DELHI: In his zeal to revitalise the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi is hoping to invoke the mantra of democracy to affect a radical overhaul in the way his party works.
His panacea for some of the ills that plague the party is credible and transparent elections at all levels including the Congress Working Committee (CWC). If accepted and endorsed by the party, the new measures mooted by Rahul are likely to change the manner in which India's oldest party has grown used to functioning.
The young AICC general secretary has been aggressively pushing his idea at every available opportunity and in the party's Future Challenges Committee of which he is a member.
The Gandhi family scion has made no secret of his belief that one of the biggest reasons why the Congress has been stagnating and has failed to attract new talent is the nomination culture in the party. "The only way forward is complete democratisation and transparent elections at all levels within the party," he is reported to have said at one of the committee's recent meetings.
Much like his father Rajiv in the initial years of his joining the party, Rahul believes that the Congress needs to recast itself to face challenges. The Congress' leader-in-waiting believes that the culture of nominations fails to reward efficiency and talent and the only way forward is through a process that attracts the best and the brightest to join the party. He has also suggested a fixed term for all office bearers and fresh elections at regular intervals to fill vacancies.
Conscious of the need to develop a cadre for the party, the MP from Amethi has also suggested that the party should set certain benchmarks for itself and for those aspiring for positions within the party. "Those who cannot even get 25% of the vote at their booths should not even be considered for party tickets."
He has also suggested that the party should think in terms of changing the process through which new people can seek membership. He has suggested the setting up of a national call center, and even access to membership through SMS." Let people apply thorough SMS or on telephone and the party units will then check whether he has any criminal or communal background and then process his request."
Rahul Gandhi's suggestions are likely to feature prominently in the report of the Future Challenges Committee which will be presented to his mother and Congress president. If the recommendations find support, these will have to be ratified by the Congress Working Committee.
His call for elections at all levels including the 23-member CWC may require an amendment to the party's constitution . According to Article XIX of the party's constitution, of its 23 members "12 will be elected by the AICC while the rest will be appointed by the Congress president."
j_ansari@dnaindia.net 
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