Will Congress worry away from Chintan?: From one-family, one-ticket formula to soft Hindutva; Chintan for the fourth time in Sonia Raj, hopes of Sanjivani

After a crushing defeat in the assembly and 2 Lok Sabha elections of 22 states, the contemplation of the Congress party continues in Udaipur. This is not the first time that the Congress is organizing a Chintan Shivir. For the fourth time a contemplation camp has been set up for the Congressmen during the reign of Sonia Gandhi. In the camp, it has been said to implement the formula of one family, one ticket. Apart from this, the term of state presidents and district presidents will also be fixed. Apart from this, strict decisions will also be taken regarding discipline.

Interestingly, the Gandhi family has been kept out of the purview of both these strict rules. In her opening speech, Sonia has said that it is time to repay the loan and the leader should leave his desires and work for the party. After Sonia’s speech, now only one question is floating in the political corridors from Udaipur to Delhi, will Congress be able to rise to power by camping in Udaipur?

Trying to get power by soft Hindutva formula
For the first time in a public program of Congress, a poster of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao has been put up. In fact, this is the first time since his death in 2004 that Narasimha Rao has been replaced by the party. At a public event in 2011, Mani Shankar Aiyar, a close aide of the Gandhi family, had claimed that the party high command was feeling uncomfortable with Rao after his role in the Babri demolition.

For the first time, a poster of former PM Narasimha Rao has been put in Udaipur’s Chintan Shivir. Rao served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

However, their posters are seen moving towards soft Hindutva of the Congress. Rao was the Prime Minister of India at the time of Babri demolition in Ayodhya. For the last few years, even Rahul Gandhi seems to be growing on this strategy. Rahul has often been giving statements about Hinduism and Hindutva.

Now only one ticket from one family in Congress, but do not apply on Sonia-Rahul

Gandhi family will get strength in Congress organization
The Gandhi family, which is constantly battling with internal strife, can also get strength from this contemplation camp. There is a constant tussle in the party over the responsibility of the defeat in the elections. At the same time, all the leaders of Congress including G-23 have united in the camp. In such a situation, it is believed that after the camp, the Gandhi family will again be at the center of Congress’s power. There may also be a demand for Rahul Gandhi to be made the president again in the camp. The election of a new president is to be held in the Congress this year.

Recently, after the defeat in 5 states, questions were being raised about Rahul Gandhi within the Congress, after which Sonia had offered to resign in the CWC meeting.

Now let’s know about the three earlier Chintan Shivirs held in Congress during the time of Sonia…

2013: Rahul is Rahul in Jaipur Chintan
In 2013, while in power at the Center, the Congress had organized a contemplation camp in Jaipur. After the crushing defeat in the assembly elections of many states including Anna Andolan, UP, Gujarat, Punjab, the party had organized this contemplation camp, but instead of contemplation in the camp, the focus was more on the promotion of Rahul Gandhi. It was decided to make Rahul Gandhi, who was working as the General Secretary in the camp, the Vice President. At the same time, Congress decided in this camp that the state president and district president will not contest the Lok Sabha or assembly elections.

Rahul Gandhi gave an emotional speech at the Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. In his speech, Rahul compared power to poison.

2004: Decision to form UPA in Shimla camp
A year before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress organized a Chintan Shivir in Shimla. In this camp, the Congress decided to contest the elections in alliance with like-minded parties by reversing the policy decided in the earlier camp. An announcement was made to form UPA in the camp. The Congress also got the benefit of this decision and in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the party formed the government at the center by defeating the Atal-Advani pair riding on the chariot of Shining India.

In Shimla Chintan Shivir, Congress decided to forge a nationwide alliance. Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh and Ahmed Patel were entrusted with this task.

1998: First Chintan Shivir led by Sonia
Seven years after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the Gandhi family returned to the Congress organization and Sonia Gandhi took over the reins of the party by removing Sitaram Kesari. In 1998, Sonia organized a Chintan Shivir by uniting Congress leaders in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. In this camp, the alliance-stricken Congress decided the policy of ‘Ekla Chalo’. In the camp, a 14-point plan on Panchayati Raj, an eight-point plan related to agriculture, a comprehensive plan to deal with the growing menace of communalism and the rapidly growing influence of the BJP was presented.