Will restore Gujarat's identity as most progressive state: Congress's new state unit chief

Shaktisinh Gohil, who has been appointed as the Gujarat Congress president, on Sunday said he would strive to transform the state into a true model of inclusive growth and restore its identity as the most progressive state of the country.

Gohil led a foot march from Sabarmati Ashram to the state party headquarters in Ahmedabad with hundreds of local leaders and supporters participating. Before launching the foot march, he offered tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the ashram. Thanking the people for their participation in the 'padyatra', the Rajya Sabha member said that as the state party president his aim will be to raise the issues of all the people of the state without discriminating them on caste and class lines.

Gohil was appointed as the state Congress president recently, replacing Jagdish Thakor. He will formally take charge of the position on Monday. He appealed to the people to support the Congress in its mission of making the state a true model of inclusive growth.


"A few people in Gujarat, names of whom can be counted in one breath, are getting richer, while a majority of Gujaratis continue to reel under the problems arising due to growing inflation, shrinking MSME sector, lack of opportunities, huge corruption and unemployment," Gohil alleged.

Congress will continue to fight for the people over the issues of fixed pay and unemployment. It will also raise farmers' issues, such as gauchar (grazing) land and low Minimum Support Price (MPS), that continue to plague them. Series of paper leaks, lack of balanced and inclusive growth and deteriorating law and order situation have dented the image of Gujarat, he added.

"Gujarat has a glorious history of inclusive growth and equal opportunities. The Congress will be vocal about issues that the majority of Gujaratis face. We will not reduce ourselves to be the mouthpieces of a few rich and powerful persons in the state," he said.

He sought the support, co-operation and blessings of the people "to restore Gujarat's identity as the most progressive state of India." The Congress faced its worst ever defeat in the state Assembly elections held in December last year, with the party winning only 17 seats even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) romped home winning 156 seats in the 182-seat House.