TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Senior Congress leaders on Tuesday expressed their displeasure over the party’s failure to overcome the causes that led to its humiliating debacle in the March 2012 Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections of 2014.
At a review meeting on the Congress Chintan Shibir, attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Digvijaya Singh and secretary Chellakumar, senior leaders were of the opinion that new young leaders need to be promoted.
During the meeting, senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, said that it is high time the party introduces fresh blood and senior leaders step aside. Rane also stressed on the need to review the party right from the grassroots level.
“For the first time Rane came out openly and said that it is time to introduce young leaders in the party, who will take the party forward,” a senior Congress leader said.
Congress leaders were of the strong view that the party has failed to look into the issues that led to its debacle. “A single sorry won’t resolve the problem. People will never accept our apology,” said Congressmen quoting former MLA Babu Azgaonkar.
Party leaders also informed Singh about the urgent need to review the party organization, with the focus on the forthcoming assembly elections in 2017.
Leaders stressed on the need to free the party from ‘Family Raj’ politics and the need to talk with the leaders, who ‘act as if they are owners of the party’ once elected.
It was also learnt that Congressman Urfan Mulla informed Singh about the treatment meted out to party loyalists. “Party workers are used and dumped,” he said.
In his final remarks, Singh appealed to Congressmen to be more aggressive and
to take up public-oriented
issues.
