Jaipur:
At the end of two days of intense debate, the Congress has prepared the blue-print of a roadmap for the general elections to be held in 2014. The party will adopt that as the Jaipur Declaration at the end of an All India Congress Committee or AICC session today. These are the key features:
- All secular and progressive forces should unite in ideological battle against those who polarise and divide society.
- Congress acknowledges there is a rising educated and aspirational middle class, especially in urban areas. Will continue to create new opportunities for them.
- Congress will go to the people on the basis of performance of UPA government, the promise of stability and good governance and restatement of its core values.
- Nepotism in the organisation's structure is a cause of concern. When leaders recommend a candidate they must be willing to take responsibility in case of failure.
- Dialogue with Pakistan must be based on accepted priniciples of civilised behaviour. When these principles are violated, India should not hesitate to take credible action.
- The number of terms for presidents of Pradesh Congress Committees and District Congress Committees should be restricted to two and the tenure should not be more than three years.
- Will launch mass contact programmes at different levels to gather feedback on people's aspirations and priorities.
- Winnability alone, should not be the benchmark for deciding nominees. There should be a balance required between loyalty and winnablity.
- Promises to create ten million jobs every year.