By IANS,
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday asked the party’s union ministers to engage with the local party leadership during their visits to the states.
Addressing the inaugural delegates session of the party’s 83rd plenary here, she said many party workers in non-Congress ruled states had complained to her that the party’s own ministers at the centre do not fully appreciate their concerns.
“They (the party workers) make a valid point. Such neglect is demoralizing for our workers, who function in a hostile environment. Central ministers must engage with the local Congress leadership and workers particularly during their visits,” she said to loud applause from the audience.
Dwelling on the role of the organisation, Gandhi said: “It is the primary responsibility of those in office to be sensitive to the voices coming from the party organization and ranks. Party workers must be seriously heard and listened to. We must nor forget that it is the ordinary worker who is our ear on ground, our hand on the pulse of the common man,” she said.
She said party workers in opposition ruled states should create awareness about the role of central government in creating and funding various flagship social sector schemes. “They must counter any effort by the opposition to take credit for the them and mislead the people,” she added.
Referring to the electoral drubbing in Bihar, she said there was no alternative to earnestly beginning the process of reviving the party organization from the grassroots.
“There are no shortcuts. The road ahead will be long and arduous but we will persevere and succeed. This is no time for despondency. This is time for constructive action, including in those states where we are in coalition,” she said.