New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a fresh exercise to reshape the Congress organisation and bring young leaders to the forefront. As part of the process, the party has shortlisted 120 leaders for interviews for the post of national secretary.
The Congress is increasingly focusing on work records and grassroots activity rather than political seniority for appointments to key national organisational positions. The move is aimed at making the organisation more inclusive, dynamic and driven by a new generation of leadership.
Rahul, Priyanka and K.C. Venugopal Conduct Interviews
Rahul Gandhi is conducting interviews for the post of Congress national secretary along with Priyanka Gandhi and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal. Selected leaders from different states have been called to Delhi for the process.
The party is working towards building a new, professional and ideologically strong young leadership team within the organisation. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi interviewed 30 leaders for national secretary positions on Monday.
The interview process will resume after Rahul Gandhi returns from his two-day visit to Raebareli. The exercise is part of the Congress’ broader effort to bring new energy and strengthen young leadership within the party.
Interviews Being Held in Groups of 10
Leaders shortlisted for the post of national secretary are being interviewed in groups of 10. Rahul Gandhi is asking candidates about their previous work, political profile and organisational experience.
The complete report cards of the shortlisted leaders’ work are already available with Rahul Gandhi. The candidates are being assessed on the basis of their work and performance as part of the selection process.
The Congress has started the process of appointing national secretaries for different states. Rahul Gandhi is personally conducting the final interviews as he prepares a new organisational team for the party.
Focus on Work and Grassroots Performance
Rahul Gandhi’s main focus is to ensure that appointments are not based solely on recommendations or letters of support. The emphasis is on grassroots performance, the ability to work and leadership vision.
The Congress is preparing to replace more than 60 percent of its existing secretaries and plans to provide opportunities to new faces within the organisation.
A total of 120 leaders will be interviewed for the post of national secretary before appointments are made. Priority is being given to leaders who have previously worked as observers under the Congress’ Sangathan Srijan programme.
Rahul Gandhi’s Long Push for Generational Change
Since entering politics in 2004, Rahul Gandhi has consistently worked towards organisational transformation and generational change within the Congress. He has made several attempts to bring young leaders forward and introduce changes to the party’s traditional organisational structure.
The Congress had earlier adopted an interview-based selection process for appointments in the Youth Congress and NSUI. The process was aimed at promoting merit-based selection and giving young people, including those without a political background, an opportunity to move into leadership roles.
Rahul Gandhi’s earlier efforts faced resistance from senior leaders and internal differences within the party. However, recent organisational changes indicate that the Congress is once again focusing on bringing new faces into important positions.
Young leaders are now being appointed from state-level organisations to district-level units. The selection process for national secretaries is also expected to give greater opportunities to workers and young leaders who have been active at the grassroots level for years.
The Congress plans to build an inclusive team by providing opportunities to young people from different parts of the country and sections of society. Through the national secretary selection process, the party is seeking to inject new energy into its organisation and strengthen its future leadership structure.
