The Hindu : It is a good augury: Jakhar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 30, 2003

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National

It is a good augury: Jakhar

Balram Jakhar, former Union Minister, writes: It is a good augury indeed for the Congress that the outfit at the various levels in the country is bustling with activities as a result of Sonia Gandhi inviting the block functionaries to ventilate their view at the central level. The first such exercise in about a decade or so, the meet of over 8,000 block presidents would be bringing the party tremendous dividends in the coming round of Assembly elections scheduled to be held in October this year.

The national interactive session where the block-level leaders, representatives of the farming community and SC and ST, will have a rare opportunity to have their say is all set to give them an encouragement to put in their best for streamlining the party machinery in view of the ensuing elections. The convention should also be seen as Ms. Gandhi's attempt to make her grassroots cadres feel part of the mainstream of politics and of decision-making at the central level. It has been Ms. Gandhi's unshakable belief that the vibrant performance of the Congress is impossible with the workers feeling neglected by the high command. As there would be free flow of expressions and views from the Congress rank and file, the central leadership will have an opportunity to apprise itself of the line of thinking on the various issues at the grassroots level. Incorporation of their views into what is to be adopted later as the party strategy in view of pools this year and the next would cause the cadres to work with renewed energy and vigour to counter the divisive and communal forces in the elections. For the party workers, nothing is like executing the policy that contains their own views and sentiments.

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