Sonia Gandhi said the Congress should be careful about party hoppers and that "patronage and quota system" should not have a role.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said the party should be careful about party hoppers and that "patronage and quota system" should not have a role in distribution of tickets.
"We should be careful about the 'aya ram gaya ram'... We also agree with your complaints (delegates)... Patronage or quota system must not have a role to play in selecting party candidates," Gandhi said in her concluding remarks in the
day-long convention of the Block and District Congress presidents here.
Gandhi was responding to the complaint of the delegates in the meeting who raised questions about imposition of candidates from above, prevalence of quota system, patronage and recommendations in distribution of tickets and alliances
in the states which are eating into the strengths of the party.
Referring to the issue of alliances raised by some delegates and complaints that they were finishing off the party in some states, Gandhi said, "alliances are necessary" in some cases but agreed that they should not come in the way of strengthening the organisation.
Exhorting the Congress leaders to meet the challenges ahead, particularly of seeking a fresh mandate, Gandhi said that the party would go to the people united and confident.
The Congress President said that the resolution passed at the meeting will be for everybody, including those sitting on the stage and it was time to assess how the party can come true to the expectations of the people.
"The resolution will be our touchstone for action. Not just a piece of paper," she said.
Praising the efforts of Rahul Gandhi in invigorating the youth of the country, she said, "We are aware of the work done by the IYC ... Now his (Rahul's) movement would not stop. The caravan would go on," she said.
The resolution, passed at the end of the convention, said that the party remains fully dedicated to the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
"It is our firm belief that India's present and its future can be secured and bright only by following the path of democracy, secularism, equality and justice.
"It is unfortunate that these are certain forces and elements which seek to undermine these fundamental human values and impede the development process of our country. We resolve to intensify our struggle against such forces," the party resolution said.
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