Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition and former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi on June 4, 2025, held a meeting with senior Party leaders from Haryana, and the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) observers here as part of an organization rejuvenation campaign.

With the Party’s Haryana unit plagued by factionalism in the past, Shri Rahul Gandhi’s clear message was that when it comes to any work for the Party, no “gutbazi” (factionalism) should come in the way and if any complaint comes, action will be taken. While addressing a meeting of the appointed observers, Shri Rahul Gandhi stressed the need to nurture promising, ideologically committed leadership across all districts of the state.

The Congress, which has been out of power in Haryana for over a decade, has not had a formal organizational structure in the state for the past 11 years and Shri Rahul Gandhi’s visit was to set the process in motion as the Party begins revamping the state unit.

Shri Rahul Gandhi reached the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) headquarters here at noon, half an hour after he reached the airport, as part of the Party’s ‘Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan’. During his two-and-a-half-hour stay, Shri Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with the Party’s senior leaders, with over 20 of them taking part. It was followed by another meeting with AICC and PCC observers. After this, he also held one more meeting with AICC observers separately.

Briefing the media in the evening, AICC in-charge of Party’s Haryana affairs, Shri B K Hariprasad, said Shri Rahul Gandhi gave a clear message which is to strengthen the Congress. It was also felt that factionalism in the state unit had delayed the appointment process of District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents, Shri Hariprasad said. There is no objection to who is part of which group but no “gutbaazi” (factionalism) should come in the way when it comes to any work for the Party and action will be taken if any complaint comes, Shri Rahul Gandhi said during his meetings, Shri Hariprasad told reporters.

Criteria set for Congress District Presidents: • The age limit to become the District President should be between 35 and 55 years. • Work experience in the organization for 5 years continuously. • The candidate should have a clean image. • Those who stay away from factionalism will be given preference. A panel of 6 people will be formed in every district. People between 35 and 55 years can become District Presidents. The Congress Party will give priority to women in appointing District Presidents.

He said that adequate representation will be given to people from SC/ST, OBC categories and women in the appointments of DCC Presidents. This process will start from June 10. Once the DCC Presidents are appointed, other appointments in the Party state unit will follow, he said.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Udai Bhan, some former HPCC Presidents including Birender Singh, AICC General Secretary Kumari Selja and senior leaders Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ajay Singh Yadav, MP Deepender Singh Hooda and Shri Ashok Tanwar were among those present at the meeting with senior leaders.