Ahmedabad, April 8, 2025 – In a pivotal move to revitalize its organizational framework, the Indian National Congress convened its Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad, signaling a strategic shift inspired by the disciplined cadre-based structures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The meeting, attended by around 260 top leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, laid the groundwork for resolutions aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots machinery ahead of tomorrow’s larger All India Congress Committee (AICC) session.
The CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body, deliberated on a series of reforms under the theme “Nyaypath: Sankalp, Samarpan, Sangharsh” (Path of Justice: Determination, Commitment, Struggle). A key decision emerging from the meeting was the push to develop a “limited cadre” system—an organizational model that mirrors the BJP and RSS’s emphasis on disciplined, ideologically driven workers—while retaining Congress’s identity as a mass-based, inclusive party. Rahul Gandhi, a vocal proponent of this shift, reportedly emphasized the need to “break the arrogance of the BJP in their own bastion,” referring to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
For decades, Congress has relied on its historical legacy and broad voter appeal, but its electoral setbacks—particularly in Gujarat, where it last held power in 1985—have exposed organizational weaknesses. The BJP, with its roots in the RSS’s cadre-driven approach, has dominated through meticulous grassroots networks, booth-level management, and ideological coherence. The RSS, a volunteer-based organization, has long provided the BJP with a steady supply of committed workers, a structure Congress now seeks to emulate in a tailored form.
“We are a mass-based party, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a cadre,” Rahul Gandhi is said to have remarked during the closed-door session, according to party sources. “Not like the BJP, but a limited cadre will have to be built.” This marks a departure from Congress’s traditional reliance on charismatic leadership and broad coalitions, acknowledging the need for a more structured, permanent workforce to counter the BJP’s electoral machine.
The decision includes plans to empower district-level committees, a move aimed at decentralizing authority and fostering local leadership—a tactic long employed by the RSS through its “shakhas” (local units) and the BJP via its “panna pramukhs” (page in-charge system for voter lists). Congress intends to appoint “preraks” (motivators), a concept reminiscent of RSS’s full-time “pracharaks,” to boost outreach and ideological dissemination. Unlike the RSS model, however, these preraks will likely engage in electoral politics, aligning with Congress’s immediate goal of reclaiming lost ground.
The Ahmedabad meeting, symbolically held in Gujarat, also reflects a broader strategy to challenge the BJP on its turf. The party accused some of its Gujarat leaders of aligning with the BJP, prompting discussions on internal cleansing and loyalty. This comes alongside a resolution to address national issues like economic inequality and social justice, positioning Congress as a counter-narrative to the BJP’s Hindutva-driven agenda.
Tomorrow’s AICC session at the Sabarmati Riverfront, expected to host 1,825 delegates, will formalize these decisions, unveiling a detailed roadmap. The event, the first of its kind in Gujarat since 1961, underscores Congress’s intent to leverage historical figures like Gandhi and Patel—both Gujaratis—to reclaim political relevance. A visit to the Sabarmati Ashram tonight by top leaders further reinforces this messaging.
Critics within and outside the party question whether Congress can replicate the BJP-RSS model without compromising its secular, pluralistic ethos. The RSS’s success stems from decades of ideological indoctrination, a stark contrast to Congress’s big-tent approach. Yet, party leaders like Pawan Khera argue that this is about adaptation, not imitation. “We’re not becoming the BJP or RSS. We’re learning from their organizational discipline to amplify our voice,” Khera told reporters.
As Congress prepares for the 2027 Gujarat elections and beyond, the Ahmedabad CWC meeting marks a turning point. Whether this blend of mass appeal and cadre discipline can dismantle the BJP’s dominance remains to be seen, but the party is betting on a restructured organization to fuel its resurgence. For now, Ahmedabad—once a Congress stronghold—stands as the launchpad for this ambitious experiment.
