The coming assembly election is a challenge for every Congress worker here. I believe that this challenge would be courageously accepted by every party worker and it will recover from the losses suffered in 2003 and 2008,” Rahul said, adding that those who have lost in three assembly polls would not be given tickets by the party.
He was addressing party leaders at Manas Bhawan. Putting up a brave face amidst the raving factionalism in the State Congress, Rahul urged party workers to forget the defeats of 2003 and 2008 and start preparing for the next election with renewed spirit and energy.
At Manas Bhawan, Rahul met party legislators and parliamentarians, district and block level office-bearers, party candidates of the 2008 legislative elections and 2009 parliamentary elections from 15 parliamentary seats. These 15 parliamentary constituencies included Damoh, Sagar, Hoshangabad, Bhopal, Vidisha, Khajuraho, Tikamgarh, Satna, Sidhi, Jabalpur, Mandla, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Shahdol and Rewa.
Rahul met party representatives elected to the local self-government bodies in the second meeting at Ravindra Bhawan. At the meeting he said that presence of party representatives in local bodies is essential for its strength at the local level. At the third meeting organised at the State Congress office, Rahul interacted with State Congress representatives and office-bearers.
Senior party leaders including AICC General Secretary and State in-charge BK Hariprasad, National Secretary Tarachand Bhagora, MPCC President Kantilal Bhuria, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Ajay Singh, former union minister Suresh Pachauri and parliamentarians Arun Yadav and Uday Pratap Singh also accompanied Rahul in these meetings. Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh was also present at the meetings held in Bhopal.
Rahul interacted with the party representatives, patiently heard their view on strengthening the party for Mission-2013. He said during the meetings that common party worker has been always given due importance in the party.
“Even in the coming legislative elections, the party decisions will be taken on the basis of the opinions of the party workers. The party is second to none in terms of workers’ dedication and strength,” he said. “The party workers should build their own identity instead of knowing leaders. In case the party wins in the elections, workers will be benefitted the most. Therefore, they have to work hardest to ensure that the party wins the elections,” he said, adding that arrangements are being made in the party to ensure that the voice of grass root workers is heard at the national level.
“Party workers are like the rib of the party. I will always try that workers’ voice is heard at the highest level.