Busy to set its house in order ever since it returned to power with a fractured mandate in the spring of 2012, the State Congress now seems to be on a soul-searching mode to trace out the factors that led to the party’s rather sticky position over the past two years and the party’s debacle in 2014 general elections.
Regional satraps from Congress who feel marginalised are now bracing themselves up to put across their perspectives right at the much-talked about two-day ‘manthan Shivir’ that is all set to kick start here on Tuesday. The interesting fact is that the State Congress has not cared to hold such a brain-storming session despite important developments having taken place like the unceremonious exit of Vijay Bahuguna from the helm of the Government in February 2014 and senior party leader Satpal Maharaj switching to BJP.
However, poll debacle in 2014 general elections dealt a body blow to the grand old party. Hence, the introspection is necessary, said party leaders. However, what the State party mandarins flaunt is the fact that Uttarakhand is the first State to see such a session in tune with the high command’s direction to all the States.
Apart from deliberating on the challenges the party has been grappling with for some time, the future roadmap is likely to emerge in the course of the churning session.“The session is important with the 2017 Assembly election drawing near. We must set things in order right now. The party can hardly afford to lose the State after having managed two successive wins here,” said a veteran party leader.
The rank and file from across the State is likely to participate in the meet. This ‘manthan shivir’ is being organised to allow the party activists to air their views. They would be redressed accordingly,” said Deepak Balutiya, the newly appointed State Congress spokesperson. Aside from focusing on the intra-party ferment, the issue related to continuation of the party’s alliance with the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) is also expected to feature here.