AHMEDABAD: Rahul Gandhi’s high-stakes Gujarat revamp—meant to revive a fading Congress in BJP’s backyard—is already facing internal pushback. The party, struggling to regain its footing in a state long dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has launched what is being pitched as a “marathon exercise” to revamp its district and city-level committees. But murmurs from within suggest the process may already be veering off course.
At the core of this massive reorganization, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has deployed an unprecedented 183 observers—one national observer per city and district, each accompanied by four state-level leaders. Their mandate is to gauge the political pulse at the grassroots, consult party workers, and submit reports that will inform the appointment of new district and city presidents, along with committee members.
However, early signs of discontent are already surfacing. Party sources say several observers have raised objections to their assigned districts. While logistical concerns like long travel distances are the official explanation, insiders point to deeper political motives. Some leaders are reportedly lobbying for postings in or around their hometowns—not just for convenience but to consolidate influence in areas where they enjoy caste dominance or have entrenched support networks. The aim, they say, is to position themselves strategically for future ticket distribution and and leadership stakes.
Others, unfamiliar with the caste dynamics and social landscape of the districts allotted to them, are hesitant to take charge. They fear being ineffective in regions where they lack local context or connection. This reluctance highlights a persistent problem within the Gujarat Congress—its leadership’s detachment from ground realities and a continuing preference for personal clout over collective organizational renewal.
When confronted with these reports, Gujarat Congress in-charge Mukul Wasnik denied any discontent within the ranks. “All observers are fully committed to the task. The exercise will be completed by May-end, and the final reports will guide the leadership in forming robust city and district units,” he said.
Yet, the growing undercurrents of dissent suggest that unless the party addresses these internal issues transparently and firmly, the revamp may become yet another missed opportunity in a state where Congress’s organizational machinery is already in tatters. The Rahul Gandhi-led initiative, while bold in intent, risks being undermined by old habits of factionalism and political self-preservation that have long plagued the party in Gujarat.