The 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has given an opportunity to the demoralised Congress party of the State to regroup and re-energise their ranks which at present are in disarray. The Congress party has decided to commemorate the 75th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi on a grand scale. In Uttarakhand, the party would hold week-long programmes in remembrance of the former Prime Minister. The State leadership of the party has made it clear that all party leaders and members should participate in these programmes and the leaders have been directed to make them a success. The party hopes that these programmes would act as a binder for the faction ridden party and help in boosting the morale of the party cadre.
The grand old party is divided into factions headed by former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Pritam Singh and former PCC President Kishore Upadhyaya.
In the meeting held at Rajiv Bhawan, the State headquarters of Congress party, the in-charge, Anugrah Narayan Singh, clearly said that those who are having issues with the party are free to leave the party. In the meeting, it was also decided that everyone should contribute to ensure success of the week long programmes starting from August 14.
When contacted, the Vice President of the State Congress Surya Kant Dhasmana said that the weeklong programmes would rejuvenise the congressmen and help the party in reorganising itself. He said that a mega contact programme with the masses would also be launched on the occasion and the party is focusing on youth.
Incidentally, the programme is first mega event of the party after it received a severe drubbing in Lok Sabha elections.
In Uttarakhand, the BJP not only won all the five seats but its candidates secured a staggering 61 percent of the popular vote. The Congress candidates lagged far behind in all the five seats as they were able to secure only 31.40 percent of the vote polled. In such a situation, the immediate challenge before the party leaders is to infuse confidence in the rank and file of the party.