Chintan Shivir: As Congress huddles for 2024 strategy, clamour grows for Rahul Gandhi's return as party president

As the Congress huddles for its strategy for the 2024 elections in its three-day brainstorming session 'Chintan Shivir' in Udaipur, Rajasthan, there seems to be a growing clamour for the return of Rahul Gandhi as the party president.

Senior Congress leaders and the Gandhis will be in Rajasthan's Udaipur for the three-day brainstorming session, which is being called the 'Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir' to discuss a strategy for the 2024 general polls, ways to combat the politics of polarisation and getting battle-ready for upcoming electoral challenges. However, even before the huddle begins, what is evident is that party leaders and workers are going to press for Rahul Gandhi's return as the Congress president.

Many party leaders made it clear that they would be raising this demand in the conclave.

Congress leader and poet Imran Pratapgarhi said, "Come what may, we are going to stand behind Rahul Gandhi. We also want Rahulcji to take charge of the party at the earliest. We will once again appeal for that in the Chintan Shivir."

Though Rahul Gandhi has maintained silence on the issue, a host of party leaders, including Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, told India Today that it is time for Rahul Gandhi to lead the party.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, while speaking exclusively to Aaj Tak said, “There has been a demand for a long time that Rahul Gandhi ji should become the party president. All the leaders, workers, delegates, and members of every Congress committee are demanding this. I think that Rahul Gandhi ji should become the president himself... That is my opinion."

The election process of the Congress has already started and the principal opposition party will elect its next president by September 2022. However, AICC Chhatisgarh in charge PL Punia said, “99 per cent, rather 100 per cent of the Congress leaders and workers want Rahul Gandhi to become our party chief.”

It was in 2013 Chintan Shivir in Jaipur when Rahul Gandhi was made Congress Vice-President, ushering in a transitional phase in the party. The party leaders said the Udaipur Chintan Shivir - which is after nine years - will mark the culmination of that transitional phase. More than 50 per cent of the Congress leaders taking part in Chintan Shivir are below the age of 50 years.