After bypoll debacle, Congress set to strengthen UP organisation

Lucknow After its debacle in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls, where it failed to secure a single seat, the Congress is set to strengthen its organisation, a process that party functionaries said was cut short because of Covid and which contributed in part to the poor performance in the state.

The party has set a deadline of December 28, which the Congress celebrates as its Foundation Day, to complete the election of block level presidents and committees, UP Congress Committee organisation in-charge Sidharth Priya Srivastava told ET. The party’s network in terms of cadre is currently limited till the districts.

On December 28, senior leaders from the party in UP, including Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, as well as MLAs, ex-MLAs and exMPs, will participate in flag marches across 60,000 villages in the state.

General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may also join, said Srivastava. “Our new president, Ajay Lallu, was elected last year only around the 2019 bypolls. Under his guidance, we were in the process of building our organisation when Covid-19 happened, and then the bypolls had to take place once again which we decided to contest. We are in the process of electing our block level presidents and committees. and will complete the process by December 28,” said Srivastava.