A few months ago, the Honorable Congress President declared this to be the ‘Year of the Organization’ for the Congress Party. He said that strengthening our organization, closely aligning it with our ideology, and bringing new people and energy into it would be the guiding principles for preparing the Party for its future. The recent appointments in the Party show that his declarations were not mere words but a strong resolve to restore the Party to its previous glory.

The recent appointments of State Presidents and in-charges reward organizational experience, ideological commitment, grassroots connect, and above all, loyalty to the Party and its ideology. The recent appointees have been people who have served the Party silently and often in the background for many years now. Most are recognized for their integrity, simplicity, and connection with common workers. They have all stood by the Party through thick and thin. The rank and file in their states and around the Country is greatly enthused by these appointments. They see in these appointments a clear sign that Congress is returning to its historical strengths of ideology, grassroots connect, and organization.

The road in front of our new office-bearers is not easy. The BJP-RSS has brought money, communalism, misuse of government machinery, and the worst types of manipulation into India’s political culture. Our organization will have to combat these forces and restore India’s political culture so that the power of the people is once again supreme. This will require more than just election work. It will require a mass movement that restores the principles of the Constitution in the public imagination. It will require a mass struggle against the blatant corruption and misuse of power. It will require mass mobilization and training of workers and common people in a struggle, to recapture India’s politics.

The road is difficult, but the Hon. Congress President has made an excellent start by giving many states the perfect generals for the struggle in the field. We wish them all the best for their new responsibilities.

Jai Congress. Jai Hind. Jai Jagat.