NEW DELHI: Congress leaders from all over the country gathered on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a state the party has not won in 30 years, to discuss its next political steps over the next two days, April 8 and April 9.
The party aims to recover from recent state election defeats that followed its strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Ahmedabad has been hosting the 84th National Convention of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on April 8–9. This is the first time in 64 years that the event is being held in Gujarat.
As part of the convention, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) began deliberations today in Ahmedabad to discuss the party’s future plans, key national matters, internal organisation, and preparations for upcoming elections. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and other prominent Congress leaders are participating in the meeting.
In the opening remarks at the CWC meet, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that the “Communal division is created by the BJP to divert attention from basic issues.”
Kharge also accused the BJP-RSS of running a “well-planned conspiracy” against national icons. He said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s ideology was completely different from that of the RSS and called it ironic that an organisation which “had no role” in the freedom movement is now trying to claim Patel’s legacy.
Kharge also said that a narrative is being built against the Congress, a party with a 140-year-long record of service and struggle for the country. He claimed this is being done by those who have no real achievements to highlight.
Targeting the BJP-RSS, Kharge said they had no contribution in India’s freedom movement.
He also accused them of spreading a false narrative about the relationship between Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, claiming they were at odds. “The truth is that they were like two sides of the same coin,” he said, adding that many incidents and records show their strong and respectful bond.
Citing a 1937 speech by Sardar Patel at Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Kharge recalled that during the provincial elections, when Nehru was Congress president and young people in Gujarat wanted him to campaign, Patel had said, “The day Gujarat proves its loyalty to the Congress by becoming victorious in this election movement, we will welcome Congress president Nehruji with flowers and welcome him with open hearts.”
Kharge also referred to Patel’s statement from 14 October 1949 in which he said, Kharge quoted, “No one knows better than me the tireless efforts Nehruji has made for the country in the last two difficult years. During this period, I have seen him grow old very fast due to the burden of heavy responsibilities.”
The extended meeting also includes CWC members, special invitees, state Congress presidents, leaders from Parliament and state councils, Central Election Committee members, and former chief ministers and deputy chief ministers.
About 170 people are attending the meeting at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial.
While the meeting of the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, is taking place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad, the AICC session will be held at Sabarmati Riverfront on 9th April.
What will be discussed in the AICC convention?
After declaring 2025 as “the year of the organisation”, the Congress is preparing to unveil a plan focused on strengthening its foundational structure. The party is looking at district committees — the core units of its organisation — as the starting point for its revival.
A proposal to give these committees more decision-making powers is likely to be announced during the session themed “Nyaypath”. This will be the key focus during the Extended Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday and the AICC general body meeting on Wednesday.
The main focus of the meeting will be on giving more power to local units, managing alliances, and increasing public outreach. These topics are expected to be part of the resolutions passed during the convention.
Outside the party ranks, the organisational agenda is likely to be overshadowed by the symbolic importance of holding the Congress session in Gujarat, a state closely linked with the current BJP. The Congress aims to reconnect with the public by highlighting its legacy in the state, especially through the contributions of freedom movement leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. As part of this effort, the CWC meeting will take place at the Patel memorial, and the main session will be held on the banks of the Sabarmati.
The two-day meeting is also being viewed within the party as a chance to reset its strategy and prepare for the 2027 Gujarat elections. Holding the session in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state is seen as symbolically important, as the party has been trying to regain support in Gujarat.
The CWC will likely discuss the draft resolutions to be approved at the AICC session, news agency PTI reported. The party may also decide on steps to strengthen its structure, including giving more authority to district presidents and improving accountability.
Congress will also plan its strategy for the upcoming state elections this year and next year.
The party has announced that the Ahmedabad session will be held under the theme “Nyaypath: Sankalp, Samarpan aur Sangharsh.” More than 1,700 AICC members are expected to attend the main event on April 9, which will take place near the Sabarmati river between Sabarmati Ashram and Kochrab Ashram.
A single resolution will cover political, economic, social, international, and organisational matters.
Main goals include giving more power to District Congress Committees (DCCs), making the candidate selection process more local, and making leaders more accountable. These reflect points made earlier in the Udaipur Declaration and Belagavi Conclave, which also focused on rebuilding from the grassroots.
The Ahmedabad session is part of the party’s efforts to regain ground in Gujarat, which was once a stronghold. Rahul Gandhi is expected to lead discussions on issues like a caste census, raising the 50 per cent cap on reservations, and support for marginalised communities.
While the Congress did well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, its recent defeats in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi have slowed that progress. Party members see the Ahmedabad session as a test of the leadership’s commitment to change.
With elections coming up in Bihar this year and in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu in 2026, the session could help shape the Congress party’s path — whether towards recovery or further struggle.
