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There is a demand that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be made the head of the committee. This would ensure that complaints of poor and arbitrary ticket distribution, a charge against many general secretaries, are addressed
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. (File image: Reuters)
Elections and the Congress have had a peculiar but absorbing relationship. After being hit by three losses in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi in recent months, the Congress needs to revamp its election management. And what better way than coming up with a committee for this?
So, the Congress is now mulling an election management committee. This new body will decide on the basics of fighting polls. From ticket distribution to election campaign management to deciding where and how alliances can be made, this is the last-ditch effort of the Congress to ensure that it does well in upcoming polls.
Later this year are the Bihar elections, where the Congress is in an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal. This is where its committee will be put to the test. Should RJD have the upper hand? How to ensure some aggression in its fight against the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party? Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Krishna Allavaru has been appointed as the state’s in-charge. This is significant as it is clear that Krishna is Rahul’s voice in the state.
Next year is important as key states like West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu will have elections.
The committee has its task cut out. Now comes the big question: who will head it? There is a demand that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be given that position. This would ensure that complaints of poor and arbitrary ticket distribution, a charge against many general secretaries, are addressed.
Also, as head of this committee, Priyanka can be an effective voice to discuss alliances. She has had two hours of meetings with the Congress president, and the suspense continues about her future role in the organisation.
When Rahul Gandhi made his poll debut, he wanted to bring changes to the electoral strategy of the Congress. But with seniors around, it was tough to do so.
For Rahul, the questions about the election committee and poll process are central to his desire to bring changes to the electoral order. The election management committee will also try to address this plan.
Faced with poll debacles, the Congress hopes this election management committee offers a ray of hope.
