The Congress Working Committee (CWC) and All India Congress Committee (AICC) sessions began in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, bringing together the party’s top leadership for a pivotal meeting aimed at political revival and strategic planning ahead of upcoming elections.
The meeting, held along the scenic Sabarmati Riverfront, saw the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and senior leaders including KC Venugopal and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Gujarat, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, holds symbolic weight for the Congress, which is seeking to re-energize its grassroots support and reclaim political ground both in the state and nationally.
“This is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Congress party’s session is going to be held here. Gujarat has given strength to the Congress, and now again, the people of Gujarat will give strength to the Congress,” said former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Congress leaders have voiced confidence that the meeting signals the party’s resurgence. MP Pramod Tiwari declared, “Congress will announce its return from the state of Mahatma Gandhi.”
Senior party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi added, “We’ve to revive Congress with new energy, new momentum and new direction. This is the aim of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, and we are moving towards it.”
The session will deliberate on election strategies, key political developments, and internal party reforms. A drafting committee, including leaders like Sachin Pilot, Bhupesh Baghel, and convenor Randeep Surjewala, was formed in advance to shape the meeting’s agenda.
Highlighting Congress’s historical ties with Gujarat, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh traced the Indian National Congress’s meetings in the state dating back to 1902, including sessions presided over by Surendra Nath Banerjee, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.
Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP and CWC member, noted the historical resonance of the meeting, as it coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel and marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi’s presidency of the Congress.
“This is a very important conference for us… It’s also a very significant event in the history of Congress and the country,” Tharoor stated.
The two-day event, scheduled for April 8–9, is seen as a moment of introspection and mobilization for the Congress as it seeks to rebuild its national influence.
