Disillusioned Maharashtra Congress leaders at 'Nav Sankalp' meet

The Maharashtra Congress began a two-day conclave, 'nav sankalp', in Shirdi to strengthen the state unit. Congress ministers, MLAs, district presidents and other office bearers are at the meet. However, those attending are worried about the current state of the party and mulling about their future.

Officially, the party has formed groups headed by senior leaders on political, organisation, economy, agriculture, farmers and cooperatives, social justice and youth and women empowerment to strengthen the organisation and create a bigger connect with voters. The party, however, has a bigger disconnect with its own leaders attending 'nav sankalp'.

Congress leaders believe that the exercise was too little and too late. "There are fundamental issues with the party, leadership issues and also ideologically we are veering too much to the left. All these issues have not yet been resolved. So, such conclaves serve no purpose unless actual issues affecting the party are addressed. To put it plainly, this is like putting band aid on a fracture," said a Congress leader.


Another senior Congress leader questioned whether the decisions taken in the meeting would have any relevance. "What is the purpose of this meeting? What is it going to achieve? We have had several such sessions even in Delhi, but nothing came out of them. All these sessions are meant to paper over the actual issues in the party. We have formed eight groups, but nothing may come out of it, decisions have to be ratified by the All India Congress Committee. Unless approved by the AICC, decisions taken in such conclaves have no meaning."

"We formed a government in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and NCP to keep the BJP out. It was meant to buy time. However, NCP is talking about an alliance with the Sena for the next assembly polls even if we don't join. Where does that leave us? We are definitely not strong enough like the BJP to fight the elections alone," said a Congress leader.