The Congress kept up the suspense on political strategist Prashant Kishor's entry into the party on Monday, instead announcing an "Empowered Action Group" to address "political challenges" ahead of the 2024 national elections and a three-day conclave in Rajasthan's Udaipur next month.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi formed the 2024 task force following a report filed by an eight-member committee last week and a discussion on it today, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
He also said, "The Congress President has decided to convene a Chintan Shivir of the Indian National Congress Nav Sankalp in Udaipur on May 13th, 14th and May 15, 2022. About 400 Congressmen and women from every state will participate."
"The focus of the deliberations will be on the current political and economic situation and the challenges they pose to our society. Issues relating to the welfare and well-being of kisans (farmers) and khet mazdoors (farm labourers), scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, religious and linguistic minorities and women, social justice and empowerment and youth will also be discussed in detail. In addition, matters relating to organisational restructuring and strengthening will be examined," Mr Surjewala said.
"The Chintan Shivir will also deliberate on the broad strategy of the Indian National Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he added.
The announcement came on a day when the Congress was widely expected to decide whether it will accept Prashant Kishor's proposal to revamp the grand old party ahead of the 2024 elections.
The poll strategist has had at least three meetings with the Congress leadership in recent weeks, during which he has given detailed presentations on his plan to rejuvenate the party reeling under a series of poll debacles over the past few years.
Top leaders of the party discussed the pros and cons of roping in Mr Kishor and what role he can be given if he is taken on board, sources said.
The committee, however, remained divided on bringing him on board with leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ambika Soni in his favour and Digvijaya Singh, Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Surjewala and Jairam Ramesh against, sources said.
The latest plans of a task force and a conclave follow a massive rout in the five states in the recently concluded elections that revived searing criticism of the Gandhi family and demands for a leadership change and a fresh round of grumblings by the "G-23" -the group of 23 "dissenters" who had written to Sonia Gandhi two years ago.
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