New Delhi, Feb 1: Ticket distribution, unity, discipline, membership and reaching out to people were some of the areas covered by Congress leaders Thursday when newly-appointed vice president Rahul Gandhi sought their views on how to strengthen the organisation for the 2014 polls.
“It (meeting) was very good… (we) discussed general things… (I) heard their views,” Gandhi told reporters after the over-two-hour-long meeting.
This was the first formal meeting of the party's office bearers, general secretaries in charge of states besides heads of frontal organisations like the Youth Congress and the Seva Dal called by him after becoming vice president.
“All kinds of issues were expressed by the leaders… it was a frank discussion,” Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the meeting. Since only 19 out of the 52 leaders present could speak, the meeting will continue on Friday, he added.
“I am not interested in what has happened so far… we need to look ahead and discuss how to move ahead… say what you feel about… as we want to make the party strong,” Dwivedi quoted Gandhi as having told the leaders.
Party sources said the meeting aimed at identifying organisational issues and drawing up an action plan to face assembly polls in nine states in 2013 and the next Lok Sabha election scheduled in 2014.
The sources said the issue of one man, one post with many ministers also functioning as state-in-charges, was also discussed during the meeting which is being seen in party circles as a preparatory exercise to the much-awaited organisational reshuffle being planned by Gandhi.
The new Congress vice president has indicated that while he is all for giving important party roles to younger leaders, he will also utilise the experience of senior leaders while unfolding the changes.
