The Indian National Congress has officially started its long-awaited process of appointing district-level presidents in Haryana, signalling a major organisational revival drive after a gap of more than eleven years. The consultation process was initiated shortly after Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, made a call for strengthening the party from the ground up.

This move is being seen as a critical step in reviving Congress’s grassroots structure in Haryana, a state that will play a significant role in the upcoming electoral battles. The All India Congress Committee AICC along with the Pradesh Congress Committee PCC observers, on Tuesday, began consultations in multiple districts such as Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Sirsa.

Consultations Begin After Over a Decade

The Congress had not had functional district-level leadership in Haryana for over a decade. This long-standing organisational gap is now being actively addressed through interviews and discussions with party leaders, workers, and social activists. In Charkhi Dadri, the process has already concluded after three days of intensive consultations. Observers spoke to various stakeholders including former MLAs, aspiring candidates, and neutral social workers to gain holistic feedback on potential candidates.

Lal Bahadur Khowal, one of the PCC observers, confirmed that the team conducted detailed discussions on each applicant’s contribution to the party and social engagement. Inputs were also collected from eight former MLAs and known social activists to ensure an unbiased review of each contender.

Eligibility Criteria Defined Clearly

The party has laid down clear eligibility criteria for the post of district president. The age range for applicants is between 35 and 55 years, and candidates must have been active members of the Congress for a minimum of five years.

Applicants are required to fill a detailed two-page application form. It includes not just basic details but also specifics such as:

• Whether the candidate runs any educational or medical institution

• If they have ever been part of any other political party

• Their political and social activities over the years

This attempt at transparency and structured documentation is aimed at making the process appear merit-based and objective.

Support and Optimism from Grassroots Workers

Raju Maan, a known name and national convener of the All India Kisan Congress, has submitted his application for a district chief post. He praised the move as energising for grassroots workers who had long been waiting for the party to reorganise at the district level.

He highlighted that the focus on young leadership and inclusion of district presidents in candidate shortlisting for elections has made the post more meaningful. This, according to him, will bring fresh enthusiasm among local leaders and boost the morale of workers across Haryana.

Concerns on Fairness Remain

Despite the positive signals, there are concerns over the fairness of the selection process. Bashir Mohammadi, a Congress leader from Nuh and a former councillor, expressed doubts about the unbiased nature of the exercise. She acknowledged that Rahul Gandhi’s intentions are good, but questioned whether the observers could truly identify the best candidate in just two or three days of consultations.

According to her, the process is likely to be influenced by prominent district-level leaders, potentially undermining the goal of finding genuinely deserving candidates.

Timeline and Applications Received

While the process was officially scheduled to begin on June 10, some observers opted to start early as per their convenience. For example, consultations in Charkhi Dadri began two days before the scheduled date. According to Haryana Congress President Udai Bhan, observers have a month’s time to complete the process across all 22 districts of the state.

Although the exact number of applications is still with the respective district observers, party sources indicate that each district has received between 15 to 20 applications so far.

Revival Strategy and Political Implications

This exercise is part of a broader revival strategy for Congress in Haryana. With the party aiming to rebuild its grassroots presence, the appointment of district presidents is a foundation-level move. This becomes especially crucial in a state like Haryana where the BJP-JJP alliance and emerging regional players have weakened Congress’s foothold over the years.

By empowering local leaders and involving them in candidate selection, the Congress hopes to regain lost ground and voter trust. The current leadership seems keen on ensuring that local leaders feel ownership in electoral strategies and candidate choices.

Youth-Centric and Democratic Push

One of the standout features of this appointment process is the emphasis on youth and internal democracy. The age restriction aims to bring new and dynamic leaders into the organisational fold. Moreover, the transparent application and selection procedure may mark a shift from the traditional top-down approach, at least in theory.

If successful, this method could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives in other states where the Congress suffers from weak district-level infrastructure.

Conclusion

The Congress party's decision to start consultations for appointing district-level presidents in Haryana marks a pivotal moment in its organisational journey. While the process is still underway, early signs suggest a blend of intentional reform, youth focus, and grassroots engagement.

However, whether these consultations will genuinely be fair and lead to the empowerment of deserving candidates remains to be seen. The success of this move will depend heavily on the integrity of observers, feedback from workers, and the final choices made by the high command.

In a state that has long awaited party reorganisation, this initiative could become the turning point—if executed with commitment and fairness

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