Cong may come up with revival blueprint by March

A blueprint for revival of Congress is expected to be ready by March with Sonia Gandhi asking state unit chiefs to seek views of grass-roots workers on how to turn around the party’s fortunes.

After Rahul Gandhi’s directive to party general secretaries to get feedback from district and block levels, the Congress president has formally written to them as well state chiefs asking them to seek the views and submit a report to her by February end, sources said.

An AICC meeting is likely in March to take up these suggestions, which will also be compiled in a book form, they said.

The missive sent by her to the AICC general secretaries, secretaries and PCC chiefs almost a week ago comes after a marathon meeting Congress vice president Rahul held with the party leaders here on December 24 in which he asked them to replicate his model of discussions with state leaders to the districts and blocks and send them a report after two months.

Sonia’s letter also asks the PCC chiefs to send their feedback by February end after consulting party workers “how to revive and resurrect” the Congress, the sources said.

The missive is significant as the states have been asked to give their feedback before the leadership has planned to hold the annual AICC meeting in March, where the feedback could pave way for an action plan.

Grappling to arrest the party’s sliding base, Rahul has reached out to the bottom rung of party workers holding regular interactions with them in groups for last more than two-three months after the debacle of Congress in Lok Sabha polls.

After his direct interaction with more than 400 leaders from all states, Rahul told the general secretaries in a separate meeting to get feedback from blocks and districts and come back to him with suggestion on how to strengthen the party at the grass roots and make a turn around.