In a move aimed at rejuvenating the Congress party in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a major organisational initiative titled Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan. The campaign was inaugurated on Tuesday at Ravindra Bhavan, where he addressed a gathering comprising State Congress Committee members, district and block presidents, and All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders.

This move comes in the wake of repeated electoral setbacks faced by Congress in the state and signals a push for structural reform, accountability, and performance-driven leadership selection.

Lame Horses Must Go: Rahul Gandhi’s Tough Talk on Party Rebuilding

At the heart of Gandhi’s speech was a blunt metaphor comparing Congress leaders to three types of horses: ceremonial (wedding) horses, race horses, and lame horses.

“There are some of you who work with full strength, some who are tired, and some who are not in the right mood. We must now distinguish between a racehorse and a wedding horse,” Gandhi stated.

But he didn’t stop there. He added a third category — the lame (langda) horse, which he said must be retired if the party truly wants to revive its strength in the region.

This analogy underscores a strong message: the party cannot afford to accommodate leaders who do not perform or contribute meaningfully to its revival. Gandhi’s remarks serve as a direct call for internal accountability, urging local leadership to take charge and implement necessary changes.

Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan: An Organisational Rejuvenation Drive

Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan translates to Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign, and that is precisely what the Congress aims to achieve through this initiative. The campaign's core goal is to rebuild the party from the grassroots by empowering leaders at the district and block levels.

According to Gandhi, Congress candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will now be recommended by block and district committees, not simply imposed from the top. This shift marks a significant decentralisation of power within the party structure — a notable departure from past practices often criticised for being overly centralised.

He reiterated a commitment first expressed during the AICC session in Ahmedabad on April 9, where he stated that the district presidents would be given greater responsibilities and be treated as the foundation of the party.

AICC Strategy in Ahmedabad Echoes in Madhya Pradesh

Gandhi’s message in Madhya Pradesh was a direct extension of the party’s April 9 strategy session in Ahmedabad, where he proposed making district-level leadership the cornerstone of the Congress’s revival strategy.

By reiterating these commitments in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi is signalling consistency and urgency in pushing for structural reforms. It’s also clear that the Congress is attempting to change its top-down approach by fostering bottom-up decision-making.

Internal Accountability and Structural Change: The Need of the Hour

The Congress party has faced multiple electoral setbacks across key states, including Madhya Pradesh. Analysts have often pointed to internal indiscipline, poor leadership selection, and disconnect with the grassroots as major reasons for the decline.

By publicly calling for the retirement of non-performing members, Gandhi is asserting that loyalty alone is not enough — performance and alignment with party goals will be crucial going forward.

The distinction between different types of leaders — the ones who are active and capable, those who are symbolic or outdated, and those who are ineffective — also opens the door for a comprehensive internal audit of Congress functionaries.

What This Means for Congress in Madhya Pradesh

For Congress in Madhya Pradesh, the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan may be a turning point. The party is attempting to refocus its strategy by giving more autonomy and power to district and block committees.

This has multiple implications:

• Candidate Selection: Local units will now play a larger role in nominating candidates, leading to more grounded and locally accepted leaders.

• Accountability: Non-performing leaders might be sidelined, making space for young and capable faces.

• Morale Boost: Active workers who felt ignored may now feel valued and included, potentially energising the base.

Reactions Within the Party

While Gandhi’s remarks were welcomed by many aspiring and hardworking grassroots workers, they also sent shockwaves among some senior leaders who may find themselves under scrutiny. The term “lame horse” has sparked internal debates, but many party insiders privately admit that such a hard stance is necessary to revive the Congress’s fortunes in the state.

Party veterans see this as a make-or-break moment for Congress in Madhya Pradesh, a state that holds strategic importance due to its size, electoral weight, and symbolic value in national politics.

A New Model for Congress Reorganisation?

If successful, the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan in Madhya Pradesh could become a template for Congress revival in other states. States like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and even Maharashtra may adopt similar models of internal scrutiny, committee empowerment, and grassroots candidate selection.

This also aligns with the broader Congress ideology revival narrative, which is attempting to reconnect with the masses and reassert grassroots democracy within the party.

Conclusion

Rahul Gandhi’s Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan is not just another campaign launch — it is a decisive shift in how the Congress party plans to organise, function, and fight future elections. By clearly categorising leadership roles and calling for the retirement of inefficient functionaries, Gandhi is laying down new rules of internal engagement.

The success of this initiative in Madhya Pradesh could well determine whether Congress is capable of reinventing itself or will continue to struggle against the well-oiled machinery of the BJP.

Only time will tell if this "racehorse vs. wedding horse" vs. "lame horse" analogy will lead to meaningful transformation — but it’s clear that the Congress high command is ready to make difficult choices in the interest of survival and renewal.

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