Rahul Gandhi signals 'drastic and lasting' changes in Congress

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi today signalled plans to carry out drastic and lasting changes in the working of the Congress to make it fighting fit ahead of a series of elections including the Lok Sabha polls.

After giving a patient hearing to the AICC Secretaries narrating their woes, the Amethi MP, whose Lok Sabha bioprofile describes him " strategy consultant" by profession, remarked that no one appeared happy about the state of affairs in the organisation and "we have to rectify" the situation.

"No one appears happy about the system as they feel it is unfair and that there are no rules and regulations and, therefore, there is uncertainty and we have to rectify the situation", Gandhi was quoted as saying by party leaders during the two-hour-long meeting with AICC office bearers.

Gandhi yesterday began his first formal interaction with AICC office bearers as Vice President which saw lot of fireworks, blame game and complaints of oneupmanship.

The young leader today said that he would go into depth of issues raised by the leaders and work to set things right.

An office bearer said that Gandhi suggested that he was for "drastic and lasting changes".

He said that the primary task right now would be to face the immediate elections in various states including Karnataka and try to rectify the overall problems after that.

Gandhi made these remarks after an AICC Secretary lamented "lack of coordination" in the party and the growing confusion as "no one is knowing what the other is doing".

Besides, the Secretary said that there was no coordination between government and organisation as the party is not taken into confidence before making appointments on official committees.

With several office bearers yet to get a chance to have their say, he will be meeting them again on Monday.