Congress Plans Greater Autonomy for District Chiefs to Revive Grassroots Network

Nagpur: In a bid to strengthen its weakening grassroots structure and address internal discord, the Congress high command is considering a major revamp that would give district presidents greater autonomy, including the right to select their executive teams and directly coordinate with the All India Congress Committee (AICC). The proposed reforms follow growing discontent within local units over centralised decision-making and perceived favouritism in key appointments.
The proposals were discussed during two meetings held at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi on March 27 and April 3, where party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, and national general secretary Mukul Wasnik interacted with district and city unit heads from nine states, including Maharashtra. Participants were briefed on the party's roadmap for revival, with a focus on bottom-up organisation building and stricter accountability.
Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe confirmed that district leaders suggested the need for broader powers in team formation and direct participation in central deliberations. While acknowledging that these suggestions received a positive response, he clarified that the final decisions were pending. "Everything is still on paper. A collective decision will be taken for all units; no separate policy will apply to specific cities or districts," he told TOI.
Senior party officials noted that the push to empower district presidents emerged after several leaders voiced frustration over interference by senior functionaries who allegedly bypassed local structures to appoint loyalists. This was cited as a key reason for demoralisation among grassroots workers. The leadership reportedly agreed in principle to allow district presidents to independently form their executive teams and streamline communication with the central leadership.
Among the structural reforms under consideration are the constitution of committees at every level — from booth to district — with a minimum of ten workers assigned to each booth. These committees would be responsible for detailed electoral mapping, including analysis of voter rolls and polling trends. Leaders who remain inactive, skip party events, or obstruct mobilisation efforts may face disciplinary scrutiny.
If implemented, the reforms could mark a significant shift in the Congress's approach to internal governance — balancing central oversight with local empowerment. Party insiders believe the strategy is vital not only to revive ground-level engagement but also to counter the erosion of its support base in several key states.