New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) Keen to boost its membership at a politically difficult time for the party, the Congress has decided to come up with web-based "membership enrolment channel" as well as launching a smart phone-based application.
At a meeting of party's central election authority (CEA) here, party leaders discussed membership drive and changes that the party needs to make in its process of organisational elections.
Party vice president Rahul Gandhi, who was among leaders present at the meeting, is learnt to have said that organisational elections should not be delayed.
The party had extended membership drive till Feb 28 from its original deadline of Dec 31 and had also rescheduled its organisational elections.
A release issued after the meeting said that Rahul Gandhi asked all Congress office bearers to work actively to boost party's membership by enrolling "genuine members".
He desired that every member's voice was heard in the party. Party secretaries, who attended the meeting, were told to come out with plans that ensure "representation to every voice".
Party president Sonia Gandhi also laid stress on genuine membership.
"Congress president and vice president have been focusing their attention for ensuring genuine membership, fair and transparent election process. Their hope is that the ongoing exercise should build strong bondage among all the workers and strengthen the party," the release said.
"Organisational elections are an opportunity for the party to reconstitute it's committees at all levels, by ensuring representation to all voices," it added
Apart from the Gandhis, CEA chairman Mullapalli Ramachandran, party treasurer Motilal Vora, political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel, general secretaries, secretaries and heads of frontal organisations were present.
The release also said that the CEA identified improvements "that need to be made to the membership process" and these will be adopted after discussion at the session of All India Congress Committee.
The proposed improvements include opening membership by introducing multiple channels including web-based applications, and continuous process of membership, common membership of party's various wings, enhancing level of representation of weaker sections, reverting to the concept of active members and holding organisational elections every three years instead of the present five.
With the party "seriously considering" to have system of active members, the release urged party workers to enroll 25 members to be able to take incentives which will be announced later.
Party secretaries have been urged to tour states extensively and enroll maximum people into the party.
Congress efforts to increase its membership and change its process of elections are being seen as part of structural changes it is making for its revamp. The party suffered a debacle in the Lok Sabha election and has since suffered defeat in all state elections, finishing third or fourth.
Dream Girl 2 Advance Booking Collection: Ayushmann Khurrana will once again appear in front of th
South star Kamal Haasan's film 'Vikram' has rocked the box office. The film, which was released i
Plea against SC's income disclosure rules dismissed
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesda
After the film 'Saalar Part 1 Ceasefire', South superstar Prabhas is now in the headlines for his
India's air-to-air missile Astra test-fired
Bhubaneswar, March 19 (IANS) India's Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra was suc
SBI has changed the timing of branches seeing lockdown, now work will be done at your convenience
New Delhi, Business Desk. The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has changed the
Putin and Biden will meet, what does Russia want from America?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Ju
When the Afghanistan team faces Pakistan in the ODI World Cup match on Monday, it will try to cau
The Indian team has overcome the big hurdle of New Zealand in the World Cup. It defeated the Kiwi
SC quashes extension of OBC reservation to Jats
New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the March 4, 2014 notification
