Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took centre stage at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet in Ahmedabad, using the platform to launch a fierce attack on the BJP and RSS, accusing them of fuelling a communal divide to distract from core governance issues. His statements marked a significant political moment, as the Congress gears up for the upcoming general elections with renewed focus and internal restructuring.

Centenary Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress Presidency

Kharge opened his speech by recalling a milestone in Congress history — the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency at the 1924 Belagavi Congress session in Karnataka. The Congress had commemorated this event on December 26 in Karnataka, tying the present moment with a symbolic past rooted in values of truth and non-violence.

He reminded the audience that Gandhi, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, all from Gujarat and former Congress presidents, had shaped the national consciousness, steering the party and the country towards independence with unmatched moral authority. Gandhi’s tools of truth and non-violence, Kharge said, remain unconquerable.

Sharp Criticism of BJP-RSS and Their Ideological Rewriting

In one of his most pointed criticisms, Kharge accused the BJP and RSS of trying to rewrite history, claiming the legacies of leaders whom they ideologically opposed. “The RSS was once banned by Patel himself,” he reminded, questioning how those who once opposed these icons now claim their legacy.

He took a historical dig, saying that RSS members had burned effigies of Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar when the Indian Constitution was adopted, highlighting their initial rejection of the constitutional framework. Kharge’s remarks also spotlighted how the current government has marginalised the presence of these leaders' statues in Parliament, placing them in lesser-visited corners — a symbolic insult, in his view.

Congress and Dr Ambedkar's Place in the Constitution

One of the key highlights of Kharge’s address was his reminder that it was the Congress that ensured Dr B.R. Ambedkar's entry into the Constituent Assembly. He cited Ambedkar’s own acknowledgement in his final speech in 1949, where the architect of the Constitution expressed gratitude to the Congress for its support.

This not only reinforced the party’s commitment to social justice and constitutionalism but also served as a rebuttal to the BJP’s attempts to position itself as the guardian of Ambedkar’s legacy.

A Strategic Turning Point for Congress: DK Shivakumar Speaks

The CWC meeting also witnessed significant internal discourse, with Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar calling the session a “turning point” for the party. He announced a clear direction: strengthening the party from the ground up, starting with empowering district and block-level leadership.

Shivakumar further added that the Congress will undergo a "complete revamp", indicating a shake-up that aims to build a stronger grassroots base for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This shift in focus comes at a time when political observers believe the Congress must move beyond legacy and into structural readiness.

Priyanka Gandhi’s Possible Elevation

In a major development reported from the sidelines of the two-day session (April 8-9), there is speculation around Priyanka Gandhi playing a more prominent role in the coming months. Congress leaders in Ahmedabad are said to be deliberating on giving her an elevated or more clearly defined position in the party's national leadership framework.

While the details remain under wraps, such a move could bring greater clarity and coherence to the party’s leadership structure, especially as the Congress aims to counter the centralised leadership model of the BJP under PM Modi.

Significance of the Gujarat Venue

This CWC meeting carries historical and strategic weight, being the first such session in Gujarat since 1961, when the last Congress convention was held in Bhavnagar. The choice of Ahmedabad is not coincidental — Gujarat has been a political stronghold for the BJP, and holding a significant Congress event here is symbolic of a renewed challenge to BJP dominance in the state.

Conclusion: A Congress Ready for Realignment

The overarching message from the CWC session is clear: the Congress is ready to realign its internal structure, reclaim its ideological legacy, and challenge the BJP on both historical and policy fronts. Kharge’s emotionally charged speech, combined with Shivakumar’s organisational roadmap and the potential elevation of Priyanka Gandhi, paints a picture of a party in transformation.

As India heads into an election year, the Congress is signalling that it will not just be a party of the past, but one preparing to fight vigorously for the future.

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