Rahul's Rae Bareli message sets 2027 template for party workers
Those who work hard would play a key role in the run-up to 2027 UP assembly elections while the shirkers are free to leave the Congress – this was the sum and substance of Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi's signal to his party's booth level workers at a closed-door programme at Dalmau in his constituency on April 29.
While giving this indication, he reminded the party workers of the speech he delivered at the Congress Working Committee meeting at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on April 8.
Amid loud applause, Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said, 'I am not sure whether you heard my Gujarat speech. I made two to three points and spoke about the categorisation of horses- these include a racehorse, a horse used in marriages (to carry the bridegroom), while in the third category is the horse that limps. The Congress party sometimes sends the racehorse to marriage processions while the one meant for marriage is sent as a racehorse.'
'The Congress has begun the work to bring about changes in the party organisation. We will send the racehorse to run in the race. The one meant for marriage will be sent to marriage while the limping horse will be sent to the BJP, and they are going (to the BJP) as you can see,' he said.
Asking party leaders to induct more women in the party organisation, he said, 'We will also have to increase the number of women here. The women are 50% of the population.' His observations assume significance as the Congress's Sangathan Srajan programme to revamp the party organisation is underway, and the party is gearing up for the 2027 UP assembly polls.
Several senior leaders, who once held important positions in the Congress organisation in the past, have left the party and joined the BJP over the years. Those who have left the Congress include former Union ministers, MPs, MLAs, and ex-senior office bearers of the party.
'Rahul Gandhi gave us this message that only the workers will lead the party in the 2027 UP assembly elections, while the shirkers may leave. We are following this formula as we build the party organisation,' Rae Bareli District Congress Committee president Pankaj Tiwari said.
Expressing the same sentiments, Amethi District Congress Committee president Pradeep Singhal said, 'Although Rahul Gandhi made these observations in Rae Bareli, we too are following this sincerely. We hope to complete the organisational revamp in the next two to three months.'
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said Rahul Gandhi has shown the way to the party men.
'Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that those fighting for the party will get a push ahead of the 2027 UP assembly polls. We are taking such workers along in the organisation building drive and ensuring that they are not left out. He has shown the path, and we are following his formula,' Rai said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi faces backlash for ‘langda ghoda' remark; disability rights group files protest
JAIPUR: Leader of Opposition 's remarks on underperforming Congress workers made at a party meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday seems to have boomeranged. While his party workers may have taken the remark in their stride, an advocacy group for specially-abled persons has taken a stand against Rahul for calling non-performing Congress persons "langda ghoda" or lame horse. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh, a Jaipur-based advocacy group, formally registered a protest over Rahul's use of ableist language and wrote to the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities, Govt of India, and the chief election commissioner (CEC), on Wednesday. Mahasangh national president Hemant Bhai Goyal said that while addressing the Congress meeting in Bhopal, Rahul disparagingly said he was adding a third category of horses – the "langda ghoda" (lame horse) – to the known two types used for races and weddings. "He further stressed on retiring the lame horse," Goyal said, condemning the remarks as derogatory and harmful to the dignity of persons with disabilities (PwDs). This choice of words, Goyal argued not only disrespects the rights of PwDs but also violates the spirit of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. "The language used by a Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha should reflect respect and understanding for all sections of the society, especially those who are most vulnerable," Goyal said. "His comments have deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of PwDs and their families across the country," he claimed. Goyal further pointed ECI's 2023 guidelines issued for political parties which state that "common examples of ableist language are words like dumb (gunga), retarded (pagal, sirphira), blind (andha, kana), deaf (behra), lame (langda, lula, apahij), etc. It is necessary to avoid usage of such derogatory language". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The backlash from Rahul's comments has ignited a broader conversation about the responsibility of public figures to use language that promotes inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities. "Shouldn't we all strive to eliminate terms that perpetuate stereotypes and insults towards the specially-abled community?" Goyal asked, while demanding action against Rahul.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Our doors are open for Badgujar: Bawankule
Nashik: Despite significant internal opposition, including from Nashik West MLA Seema Hiray and other BJP functionaries, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has indicated that the door remains open for Sudhakar Badgujar — the recently expelled Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader — to join the saffron party. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Badgujar had been accused by the BJP of being anti-national after purported video clips surfaced showing him with 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blast convict Salim Kutta. However, Bawankule, speaking in Nashik at a workshop for over 550 party office-bearers from the Nashik division, asserted that an individual is not a criminal until proven so in a court of law. When asked about Badgujar potentially joining the party, Bawankule said, "The doors are open to all those who want to join the party." He acknowledged the existing "bitterness, misgivings, and misunderstandings" between Badgujar and current BJP leaders, citing their past electoral contest in the assembly elections. Bawankule added that he and Girish Mahajan were "looking into the matter". He emphasized that no deadline had been set for a decision on Badgujar's inclusion. "It will take time. After all, the party is striving for the development of society and the country, and we want to increase the party bases. We will decide appropriately and accordingly if anybody wants to join us without any conditions," Bawankule said. In response to the question that party functionaries felt accepting Badgujar into the party fold would malign the party image, Bawankule said, "Making allegations against a person is one thing, and conviction by the court is another. I personally believe that no one should judge any person based on allegations." Regarding the Thackeray brothers coming together, Bawankule said the party has nothing to do with their decision, especially when the Mahayuti is stronger than ever.
New Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Rahul Gandhi's 'lame horses' remark 'insensitive', 'legally objectionable', says champion para swimmer
BHOPAL: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has drawn flak for his "lame horses" remark made at the Madhya Pradesh Congress convention in Bhopal on Tuesday. In a post on social media platform X on Thursday, international para swimmer and Padma Shri awardee Satendra Singh Lohiya voiced his strong objection to the remark by Gandhi, saying it was not only 'insensitive' but also 'legally objectionable'. Hinting at minimising the role of inactive and jaded leaders and promoting active and committed ones in the state, Gandhi had said, 'We must identify and segregate race horses, wedding horses and lame horses. The race horses will be promoted, the wedding horses will be set aside for 'weddings', while the time has come for the lame horses to retire.' In response, Lohiya wrote, 'I'm an international level para swimmer and a Divyang (specially-abled) and also a responsible citizen of the country. In a recent public statement in Bhopal, he (Gandhi) used the word 'langda,' which hurt me a lot. The word is not only insensitive, but according to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, this terminology has been abolished and is legally considered objectionable. This Act was passed by the Parliament with the purpose of giving Divyangjan a place of respect and dignity in the society. We were given a positive word like Divyang by the PM Narendra Modi, which reflects our capabilities, not our challenges. In such a situation when the country hears such an insensitive word from a national leader, it hurts the sentiments of not just one person, but the entire Divyang community,' Lohiya posted. 'I don't know in which context he (Gandhi) used the word, but I request him to clarify on this matter and avoid using such language in future, keeping in mind the sentiments of specially-abled people. He is requested to take this matter seriously and give an appropriate response, respecting the sentiments of Divyang people of the country,' he added in the post.
