Chidambaram bats for younger leaders' inclusion in Congress Working Committee

Days ahead of the Congress crucial plenary session senior leader P Chidambaram on Monday said half of the CWC members should be elected as per the AICC constitution and batted for younger leaders inclusion in the partys top decisionmaking bodyIn an exclusive interview with PTI Chidambaram said he has learnt that there are issues about the strength of the electoral college that will elect the Congress Working Committee CWC which must be resolved by the partys poll panelThe former Union minister asserted that an objective analysis of the political situation will lead to the conclusion that the Congress has to be the pole around which Opposition unity in the 2024 Lok Sabha election can be builtAsked whether he believes that elections to the partys highest decisionmaking body CWC were essential Chidambaram said My personal view is that onehalf of the CWC should be elected as per the Constitution of the partyAlso readPrithvi Shaw selfie controversy Mumbai court grants bail to Sapna GillHowever I learn there are issues about the strength of the electoral college that will elect the CWCThese issues must be resolved by the election commission of the party he saidOn whether he would contest if the CWC polls take place or was he expecting a nomination to the party body he said I have no expectations or personal ambitions I think younger members must be elected and nominated to the CWCThe organs of the party should also reflect the diversity of the country and the party added Chidambaram who is currently a member of the steering committee that was set up by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to function till the time a CWC is electedAsked how far would CWC polls be free with the AICC delegates picked by the leadership the senior Congress leader said he does not agree with the observation that the electoral college was picked by the current leadershipThe list of PCC members of each state was finalised at the state level by the state leadershipEach PCC had also recommended the slate of AICC delegates I believe that the AICC leadership took into account the recommendations and finalised the list of members of the AICC Chidambaram saidIt was a consultative and collective effort he asserted and added that if there are any shortcomings those are also a shared and collective responsibilityCongress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal has said the partys steering committee would meet in Chhattisgarhs Raipur on the first day of the session on February 24 and decide whether elections would be held for the CWCAccording to the party constitution the working committee shall consist of the president of the Congress the Leader of the Congress Party in Parliament and 23 other members of whom 12 members will be elected by the AICC as per rules prescribed by the working committee and the rest shall be appointed by the presidentTalking about the upcoming Raipur session Chidambaram noted that it is being held when the Lok Sabha elections are due in about 14 months and said that it is widely expected that the AICC will issue a clarion call that will convince the people on why it is imperative that there should be a change of government at the national levelWe must also produce a document that will address the aspirations of the people for a peaceful prosperous and equitable country he stressedAsked if the Congress has to be the fulcrum of any Opposition alliance to take on the BJP in 2024 elections Chidambaram said there is a growing realisation that the Opposition parties must forge a united front in order to take on the BJPEach party has its own strength and brings to the table a certain value he notedThere is also an acknowledgement that barring the Congress all other Opposition parties are singlestate parties he saidI think an objective analysis of the political situation will lead to the conclusion that the Congress has to be the pole around which Opposition unity in the Lok Sabha election can be built All parties including the Congress must approach the task with a spirit of giveandtake and of humility Chidambaram assertedOn the current difficulties in forging Opposition unity he said each party is entitled to protect its interests in an election to the state legislatureWe are concerned about Opposition unity in an election to the Lok Sabha Each party must discard its statelevel lens and wear an allIndia lens I hope the Congress leaders as well as leaders like Mr Sharad Pawar Mr Nitish Kumar Mr Sitaram Yechury and Mr MK Stalin can impress upon all parties to approach the election to the Lok Sabha with a new perspective he told PTIChidambaram also said that the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra undoubtedly has established Rahul Gandhi as a leader with grit determination and perseverance and it has also awakened the people to recognise that the country is faced with huge problems economic and socialIt has challenged the hegemony that the BJP has sought to acquire through various means Chidambaram said adding he does not think that the Yatra was intended to reap narrow electoral gainsChidambaram who is chairing the partys subgroup on economic affairs for the plenary session said the starting point for the panel will be the current world economic situation and the current Indian economic situationThe Congress strongly disagrees with the governments glowing and selfserving assessment of the economic situation he saidWe will draw extensively from the conclusions arrived at the Udaipur Conclave Inputs have been obtained from all the members of the subcommittee I have requested the Convenor of the subcommittee Dr Gourabh Vallabh to make a draft of the resolution Chidambaram saidThe 85th plenary session of the party will be held in Raipur in Chhattisgarh from February 24 to 26 The agenda for the threeday session of the party would be finalised in the steering committee meeting to be held on the first day and thereafter the subjects committee will give final shape to the resolutions to be adoptedThis 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