The much-touted State Congress’ 'Manthan Shivir' which can be aptly described as an extension of the grand old party's bid to reinvent itself in the fast-changing political matrix of the country, has begun here on Tuesday with a gamut of local issues dominating the interactive session.Several senior Congress leaders, including the State party in-charge, Ambika Soni, the State Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the former CM Vijay Bahuguna, State Cabinet Ministers Indira Haridayesh and Yashpal Arya and UPCC president Kishore Upadhyaya, were present.
The brain-storming session seems to be important for the regional satraps, particularly those who feel marginalized within the party roost. It is being held against the backdrop of the State party being set to go for a restructuring exercise soon after the session is over. What evokes interest in the churning session is the fact that as many as seven factions with about 50 activists in each have participated in the meet on Tuesday. However, what happened at the end of the day is that only one group was left to talk to the party leadership.
The interactions with the party activists have been quite encouraging, said Kishore Upadhyaya, Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president.The party would definitely take note of the party leaders and activists’ opinions while the future agenda would be firmed up, he added.However, what is crucial is to bring into focus the inclusive, pro-development ideology of the party. BJP came to power in the Centre, harping on development
But now it has consigned development onto the backburner. Now the ideology the Congress embodies with unflinching stress on inclusive development has become relevant again with development being derailed, maintained Upadhyaya.Queried on the upcoming restructuring of the Congress’s State unit, Upadhyaya said that the new UPCC team would be formed soon after the session.
The issue of alliance with Progressive Democratic Front was also raised. The UPCC president maintained that the party would take into account all the shades of suggestions being put forward by the party workers before a decision is taken.The party leaders maintained that the inputs evolving from such sessions being held across the country would be placed before the party’s central leadership to help it evolve strategy in tune with the demand of the time.