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Prasada presents eight-point action plan

Senior Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, who has challenged Sonia Gandhi in the presidential poll, Friday gave an eight-point action plan to rejuvenate the party to face the assembly elections successfully.

At a press conference at his Teen Murti Marg residence, Prasada pointed out that assembly elections would be held in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Pondicherry and Assam. Uttar Pradesh would follow suit, he said, adding that they presented a great opportunity for the Congress " to regain lost ground and make a comeback as a major political force in all these states."

"If we make an impressive showing in these elections, the stage will be set for a much-needed change at the Centre, a change that is essential to save the country from the drift and non-governance of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government," he said in a two and a half page statement.

Prasada used the organisational elections to humiliate the rival Sonia camp in his endeavour to revitalise the party and rid it of the party chief's alleged coterie that is responsible for its 'downslide'.

"The organisational elections can be made the starting point of rejuvenation and revitalisation of the Congress and to prepare it to face electoral challenges successfully," he emphasised.

His eight-point action plan includes a suggestion to hold elections to all pradesh Congress committees in a free, fair and transparent manner so that workers may feel that their votes and verdict are being respected, assure all PCCs and district Congress committees that their views will be respected in the selection of candidates, reassure party worker on his complaints of corrupt practices at various party levels, constitute the vital Congress parliamentary board, unity among party members to fight divisive and sectarian forces, action plan for revitalising the economy, exposing the failure of non-Congress state governments and party initiatives in international affairs.

He has cleverly used the party leadership's shortcomings in various spheres, not only to fight the assembly polls but to ostensibly strengthen the organisation.

Referring to his suggestion for revitalising the economy, Prasada has underscored that "this programme should shun populist temptations and should promise what the party will actually be able to deliver."

On his suggestion to expose the non-Congress state governments' failures, he has underscored that "let me emphasise that this campaign will be effective only if the grassroots workers are highly motivated and Congress committees at various levels are in a state of battle readiness."

Later, Prasada said, "Defintitely, I have elicited a substantial response among PCC delegates. I have appealed to them to vote according to their inner voice. If they do, I will get great many votes."

On whether he apprehended unfair practices by the rival camp during the November 12 polling, Prasada told rediff.com, "I have highlighted a whole lot of things during the past fortnight. Surely, you know by now."

"Thank you all, I came from Chandigarh just now and I am going outstation again. But my party workers will answer any questions that you may have tomorrow," Prasada said, adding that he would be available to reporters after November 12.

The Congress: The War Within

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