Ahmedabad: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Wednesday outlined his vision for the party, saying it should embody hope rather than “resentment” and speak to the future instead of dwelling solely on the past—highlighting a growing divergence within the leadership over the party’s official political line. While Tharoor endorsed the political resolution tabled at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session by senior leader Sachin Pilot, his speech made it clear that, given a choice, he would opt for a different approach.
“It is the 140th anniversary of our party. We have an illustrious history. But we must recognise that the young who are the majority of the electorate are more concerned with what we can do for them today and what kind of tomorrow we can provide for them. Our resolution will be judged by that.
“As I said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) yesterday, the Congress must be the party of hope, not of resentment. The party of the future, not just the past. The party with the positive narrative and not just negative criticism. I hope we will leave here with a resounding message to the nation that we are ready to shoulder the burden of serving our people effectively,” Tharoor said in his speech Wednesday.
It is learnt that some members of CWC felt the resolution, which was put up for debate at the AICC session, fell short of offering the country a roadmap for the future and aspirations of the Indian youth. They said its silence on organisational renewal was also baffling.
Party sources said Tharoor underlined that the resolution offers a diagnosis but no solution. For instance, he said merely expressing concern over inequality may lead many to wonder whether the Congress would support more direct taxes to effect redistribution of income.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari is also learnt to have echoed a somewhat similar view saying the Congress must not overlook the aspirations of the youth in terms of creation of wealth and prosperity.
Other than seeking to articulate its position on nationalism and faith, the resolution focuses on the party’s social justice pitch anchored in the commitment for a nationwide caste census and continued support for reservations for backward castes.
Tharoor is learnt to have raised questions on this aspect too, saying the party should revive its classic message of inclusion. Not doing so would blunt the Congress’s criticism of the BJP as a communal party, he said, urging the party to eschew negativity.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP, party sources said, also cautioned the central leadership that its strategy could give BJP ammunition to accuse the Congress of sowing division along the lines of caste.
On the other hand, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s opening remarks at the AICC session, yet again, underscored the party’s storied past and its resilience, punctuated with a sharp attack on the BJP and RSS. Kharge also raised questions on the fairness of the electoral process, calling the Maharashtra assembly polls results a “fraud”.
Kharge claimed most developed nations have moved towards holding polls on ballot paper, but EVMs are still being used in a country as large as India”.
“They (NDA) won Maharashtra. It was a fraud. A similar thing may have happened in Haryana at a smaller scale,” Kharge said. His speech also had some blunt assertions. “I also want to say that those who do not contribute to the party’s work need to take rest. Those who do not fulfill their responsibilities should retire,” said the Congress chief.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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