Congress Holds Gujarat Convention After 64 Years, Eyes 2027 Polls 

Congress Holds Gujarat Convention After 64 Years, Eyes 2027 Polls 

News Report Highlights:

The Congress party held its first national convention in Gujarat in 64 years to deliberate on strategies to regain ground.

For the first time, the Congress has introduced a state-specific resolution at an AICC convention, targeting the 2027 Gujarat polls.

This AICC convention in Gujarat coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi was president of the Congress.

The Congress aims to address challenges faced by the middle class, business community, and minorities and strategize to regain lost political ground.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat (RMN News): The Indian National Congress commenced its 84th National Convention in Gujarat, marking a significant return to the state after a hiatus of 64 years. 

Top party brass, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, converged in Ahmedabad for crucial deliberations on the party’s future strategy and to galvanise its cadre. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting takes place at the Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug, with over 159 members in attendance.

This high-profile convention in Gujarat holds particular significance as the state is widely considered the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stronghold and often serves as a testing ground for their socio-political initiatives. The last AICC convention held in Gujarat took place in Bhavnagar in 1961.

The two-day programme – which began on April 8 – could draw over 3,000 Congress workers from across the nation, who will participate in discussions aimed at charting the party’s future direction and formulating strategies to regain lost political ground across various regions. This convention also coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the centennial of Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency of the Congress, adding historical weight to the event.

Senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with other prominent figures, received a warm reception upon their arrival at the Sardar Patel International Airport. Cultural performances were organised along the route from the airport to the meeting venue, setting a vibrant tone for the convention.

The selection of Gujarat as the venue for this significant convention after such a long period underscores the party’s intent to challenge the BJP in its bastion. Organising the event in a state governed by the BJP for over three decades has presented its challenges. Party sources have claimed that they faced difficulties in securing permissions for venues, allegedly being denied at least twice.

Six prominent leaders from Gujarat – Shaktisinh Gohil, Jagdish Thakor, Lalji Desai, Dr. Amee Yagnik, Madhusudan Mistry, and Amit Chavda – were actively participating in the crucial CWC meeting. Their presence highlights the importance the party is assigning to its revival efforts in the state.

A key highlight emerging from the convention is the Congress party’s specific focus on the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections. The Gujarat Congress is hopeful that this two-day programme will inject much-needed enthusiasm into its cadre, particularly after a disappointing performance in the 2022 Assembly elections, where it secured only 12 out of 182 seats, and a less than satisfactory showing in recent local body polls. Furthermore, the party currently holds only one of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.