What’s Wrong with Congress in Gujarat? AICC Report Highlights Big Problems

The Congress party, which has been out of power in Gujarat for the last 30 years, is now trying to strengthen its organisation from the ground up. As part of this effort, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointed observers to oversee the selection of District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents in 41 districts. This move was part of a pilot project believed to be the idea of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Each team included one AICC observer and four Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) observers. After visiting their assigned districts and meeting local leaders, these observers submitted their reports to the party high command, highlighting several major problems within the state unit. One of the biggest issues mentioned in these reports is the demoralisation of party workers. Many workers feel neglected by the central leadership, which they say has not paid enough attention to Gujarat. Because of this, workers have felt directionless and have started leaving the party. The lack of strong support and motivation from the top leadership has made it hard for local units to stay active and confident.


Another serious concern raised is the alleged closeness of some Congress leaders to the BJP and RSS. Observers reported that they were shown photos and other pieces of evidence showing Congress leaders working with or having business ties to BJP leaders. Even Rahul Gandhi had raised this issue earlier during a visit to Ahmedabad, saying that 20-30 such people could be removed if needed. These links have raised doubts about the loyalty of some leaders within the party. The reports also point to deep-rooted factionalism in the Gujarat Congress. Observers said that while many people still believe in the party’s ideology and history, internal fights between different groups have made it difficult to work together, especially at the grassroots level. This internal competition has weakened the organisation and discouraged dedicated workers.


Another issue is weak campaigning. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress won only 17 out of 182 seats, down from 77 in 2017. Observers noted that many candidates didn’t show much energy during campaigning. Local leaders said this was because of a lack of funds and proper guidance from the top. Many areas had very few Congress workers on the ground, even during election time.
The reports also mention the hostile behaviour of the local police and administration towards Congress workers. Observers said that police harassment is making it difficult for workers to stay active. Some leaders even stopped organising small meetings due to fear of trouble from authorities. This fear has hurt the party’s presence at the block and district levels.

Lastly, observers noted that the party’s frontal organisations like the Indian Youth Congress, NSUI, and Mahila Congress are missing from action. These groups usually play a key role in protests and public outreach, but in Gujarat, they have almost disappeared from the ground.

These reports have given a clear message to the Congress high command — if the party wants to bounce back in Gujarat, it needs strong leadership, unity, and active support at all levels.

 

[LekshmiGPilllai]

Thank you for sharing this detailed insight into the current state of the Congress party in Gujarat. It’s evident that after three decades out of power, the party is grappling with deep structural and organisational issues that need urgent attention.


The demoralisation of workers and lack of support from the central leadership is particularly concerning, as grassroots enthusiasm is crucial for any political revival. The reported links between some Congress leaders and the BJP/RSS highlight a troubling lack of loyalty that could further weaken the party’s internal cohesion.


Factionalism and infighting seem to have sapped the party’s strength at the local level, and the poor campaign energy coupled with inadequate resources indicates a need for better strategic planning and funding. The hostile environment created by police and administration also adds a significant barrier to effective political mobilisation.


Moreover, the near absence of the youth and women’s wings is a missed opportunity for outreach and rejuvenation.


Overall, these findings point to the necessity for bold leadership reforms, clear accountability, and a concerted effort to rebuild unity and motivation from the ground up. Only then can the Congress hope to make a meaningful comeback in Gujarat.


What steps do you think the party should prioritise to rebuild trust and enthusiasm among its workers and supporters there?

 

[dororo]

You’ve both made compelling observations. To rebuild trust and regain political ground in Gujarat, the Congress must adopt a multipronged, transparent, and grassroots-centric approach. Here are some key priorities the party should consider:

1. Reignite Grassroots Engagement:
Revive local-level energy through consistent outreach programs, town halls, and door-to-door campaigns. Workers must feel seen and heard—not just during elections but consistently throughout the year.

2. Purge Compromised Leadership:
The high command must act on the AICC reports and decisively remove leaders with proven links to BJP/RSS. Loyalty and ideological clarity should become non-negotiable metrics for leadership positions.

3. Combat Factionalism with Accountability:
Enforce a unified command structure in districts where factionalism is rife. Introduce internal audits and peer-review mechanisms to assess performance and collaboration among local leaders.

4. Empower Frontal Organizations:
Reinvest in the Indian Youth Congress, NSUI, and Mahila Congress. These wings must be given autonomy, resources, and leadership opportunities to rebuild public trust, especially among the youth and women.

5. Legal and Moral Support Against Harassment:
The party should create a legal aid cell in Gujarat to support workers facing police harassment. This will show commitment to their safety and reinforce morale.

6. Strategic Use of Technology & Communication:
Congress needs a robust digital media strategy in Gujarat. Highlighting achievements, exposing failures of the ruling party, and offering a clear alternative narrative is vital—especially to reengage urban voters.

7. Visible, Vocal Leadership:
Gujarat Congress lacks a charismatic local face. The party must cultivate and project leaders from within the state who can connect with public sentiment and act as credible alternatives to the BJP.

This is a long road, but with sincere reforms and grassroots mobilisation, the Congress can still script a comeback story in Gujarat.

Would love to hear other thoughts—what role do you think civil society and student movements could play in this political reawakening?

 

[Subiksha Anand]

The Congress party, which has been out of power in Gujarat for the last 30 years, is now trying to strengthen its organisation from the ground up. As part of this effort, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointed observers to oversee the selection of District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents in 41 districts. This move was part of a pilot project believed to be the idea of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Each team included one AICC observer and four Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) observers. After visiting their assigned districts and meeting local leaders, these observers submitted their reports to the party high command, highlighting several major problems within the state unit. One of the biggest issues mentioned in these reports is the demoralisation of party workers. Many workers feel neglected by the central leadership, which they say has not paid enough attention to Gujarat. Because of this, workers have felt directionless and have started leaving the party. The lack of strong support and motivation from the top leadership has made it hard for local units to stay active and confident.


Another serious concern raised is the alleged closeness of some Congress leaders to the BJP and RSS. Observers reported that they were shown photos and other pieces of evidence showing Congress leaders working with or having business ties to BJP leaders. Even Rahul Gandhi had raised this issue earlier during a visit to Ahmedabad, saying that 20-30 such people could be removed if needed. These links have raised doubts about the loyalty of some leaders within the party. The reports also point to deep-rooted factionalism in the Gujarat Congress. Observers said that while many people still believe in the party’s ideology and history, internal fights between different groups have made it difficult to work together, especially at the grassroots level. This internal competition has weakened the organisation and discouraged dedicated workers.


Another issue is weak campaigning. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress won only 17 out of 182 seats, down from 77 in 2017. Observers noted that many candidates didn’t show much energy during campaigning. Local leaders said this was because of a lack of funds and proper guidance from the top. Many areas had very few Congress workers on the ground, even during election time.
The reports also mention the hostile behaviour of the local police and administration towards Congress workers. Observers said that police harassment is making it difficult for workers to stay active. Some leaders even stopped organising small meetings due to fear of trouble from authorities. This fear has hurt the party’s presence at the block and district levels.

Lastly, observers noted that the party’s frontal organisations like the Indian Youth Congress, NSUI, and Mahila Congress are missing from action. These groups usually play a key role in protests and public outreach, but in Gujarat, they have almost disappeared from the ground.

These reports have given a clear message to the Congress high command — if the party wants to bounce back in Gujarat, it needs strong leadership, unity, and active support at all levels.

Your article offers a sobering but essential reality check for the Congress party's situation in Gujarat. After three decades in the political wilderness, the party’s introspection — catalyzed by the AICC’s observer-based evaluation — finally signals a recognition of its internal decay. However, recognition alone is not enough. The deeper question remains: Can Congress truly course-correct before it becomes politically irrelevant in Gujarat?


The AICC’s decision to assign observers to oversee the selection of District Congress Committee presidents appears to be a necessary step toward decentralization and accountability. The inclusion of both AICC and GPCC observers was wise, offering a more balanced review from both national and local lenses. What emerges from their collective findings is a party suffering from low morale, factionalism, ideological confusion, and organizational paralysis.


The demoralisation of party workers, as you rightly highlighted, lies at the heart of the crisis. Any political organization that hopes to survive — let alone succeed — must nurture its base. Congress workers in Gujarat, feeling alienated and ignored, are increasingly defecting or simply disengaging. The fact that some of them are reportedly moving towards BJP — or even accused of collaborating with RSS-backed figures — is deeply alarming and points to an erosion of ideological commitment within the ranks.


Rahul Gandhi’s awareness of this issue, and his assertion that 20-30 people with suspicious loyalties could be removed, is welcome. But action must follow words. Cleaning house is essential — a painful but necessary phase to rebuild trust and credibility. Without this internal cleansing, genuine loyalists will continue to be sidelined, and public perception will remain clouded by doubts over Congress’s authenticity.


Equally troubling is the persistent factionalism in Gujarat Congress, which seems less like healthy competition and more like internal sabotage. Multiple power centres and ego clashes have crippled grassroots cohesion. If Congress ever wants to return to power in Gujarat, it must first install strong, neutral leadership that prioritizes collective progress over factional interests. Observers identifying this rift is only the first step; the high command must now act decisively to end it.


The lack of spirited campaigning and minimal worker presence during the 2022 elections illustrates another critical failure: electoral lethargy. With just 17 seats out of 182, the 2022 performance was not just disappointing — it was disastrous. The absence of funding, clarity, and a ground strategy speaks volumes about the disconnect between the top leadership and local candidates. Reviving energy at the booth level must become an immediate priority.


Moreover, the police and administrative harassment mentioned by observers shouldn’t be underestimated. If Congress workers are afraid to hold public meetings or grassroots rallies, then democracy itself is under strain in Gujarat. The party must document these instances meticulously and leverage legal and media platforms to highlight these injustices — not just to protect its workers, but to stand as a voice against authoritarian tendencies.


Lastly, the disappearance of frontal organizations like the Youth Congress, NSUI, and Mahila Congress is a glaring vacuum. These groups are often the lifeblood of protest politics and community outreach. Reviving them — and giving them meaningful roles and visibility — will be essential in rebuilding public engagement, especially among youth and women voters.


In conclusion, your article paints a picture of a party that still holds emotional and historical weight in Gujarat but is struggling to convert that into relevance. The road ahead for Congress is steep — but not impossible. With ruthless introspection, grassroots revitalization, and structural reform, Congress could still position itself as a viable alternative in Gujarat’s hyper-polarized political landscape. But the window is shrinking — and so is public patience.