The Congress party in Gujarat is facing a severe organisational crisis marked by absent leadership, internal factionalism, and allegations of links between some state Congress leaders and the BJP. This has contributed to a sense of demoralisation among workers, hampering the party’s efforts to revive itself in a state where it has been out of power for 30 years.

As part of an initiative led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointed a five-member panel to oversee the appointment of District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents across all 41 districts of Gujarat. This pilot project aims to restructure the party from the grassroots and strengthen the state unit ahead of future elections.

The observers, including an AICC representative and four Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) observers, conducted several rounds of meetings in their respective districts and submitted detailed reports to the party’s high command. These reports highlight critical issues weakening the Gujarat Congress.

One of the most alarming concerns raised is the alleged nexus between some local Congress leaders and the BJP. According to AICC observers, evidence was shown during meetings that some Congress leaders maintain close ties with BJP and RSS leaders, which compromises the party’s integrity and trust among grassroots workers. This issue was first raised publicly by Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Ahmedabad in March 2025, where he expressed readiness to remove up to 20-30 such leaders if necessary.

The lack of interest and involvement from the central leadership in Gujarat’s affairs was repeatedly flagged by observers. The party has been out of power since 1995, and the absence of focused guidance has left many workers demoralised and disengaged, with some reportedly leaving the party altogether. Observers noted that national attention on state issues often helps raise media and public interest, which has been missing for Gujarat.

Another persistent challenge is factionalism within the Gujarat Congress. Different internal groups often work at cross-purposes, preventing cohesive grassroots mobilisation. While factionalism is common in many political parties, in Gujarat it has significantly affected the party’s ability to organise efficiently at the district and block levels.

The Congress’s campaign in the 2022 Assembly elections was described as weak by multiple observers. Several candidates reportedly lacked enthusiasm and visibility on the ground, attributed largely to inadequate funds and poor guidance from the state leadership. This weak campaigning contributed to the party securing only 17 of the 182 seats with a reduced vote share of 27.75%, compared to 77 seats and over 40% vote share in 2017.

Adding to these challenges is the issue of police and administrative harassment of Congress workers in Gujarat. Observers highlighted that partisan use of law enforcement has created an atmosphere of fear among party supporters, discouraging new members from joining and causing some active workers to leave. Such harassment has also led to the suspension of small meetings and grassroots activities, severely weakening the party’s presence on the ground.

Furthermore, frontal organisations such as the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and All India Mahila Congress have been largely inactive or missing in action in Gujarat. The absence of these key bodies has deprived the party of vital support structures that engage youth, students, and women – essential demographics for electoral success.

The high command of the Congress is expected to finalise the appointments of new District Congress Committee presidents with a focus on maintaining caste and gender balance and ensuring a healthy mix of experienced and young leaders. This move aims to rejuvenate the party’s grassroots network and counteract the damaging factionalism.

In summary, the Gujarat Congress faces a complex web of challenges, including internal factionalism, leadership vacuum, allegations of BJP ties, weak campaigning, and harassment of workers. The ongoing AICC observer exercise under Rahul Gandhi’s direction represents a critical step toward addressing these issues. However, the road ahead remains difficult for the party as it strives to rebuild trust, motivate its cadre, and regain political ground in a BJP-dominated state.

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