Rahul Gandhi takes charge, will revive party

Concerned over the lack of rules and regulations in the party, newly appointed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday vowed to change the existing set-up and put in place a system where there would be responsibility with accountability. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

Concerned over the lack of rules and regulations in the party, newly appointed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday vowed to change the existing set-up and put in place a system where there would be responsibility with accountability.

The statement was interpreted by many office bearers as a signal from him to bring about drastic changes in the functioning of the organisation.

During his second consecutive day of interaction with office bearers, as many as 13 secretaries spoke for more than two hours that also witnessed brief responses from him.

The secretaries demanded that their role be clearly defined - whether they are subordinates to general secretaries or the support team. Some of them also demanded inclusion in the Congress Working Committee.

Rahul assured them that he would soon "rectify the situation" by demarcating their duties and rights.

"Responsibility without authority cannot go too far….without authority, the responsibility also cannot be fixed," he was quoted to having said.

Rahul also told them that henceforth performance would be judged in party promotions.

While Sagar Rayka demanded setting up an OBC cell, Vijay Laxmi Sadho sought empowerment of dalits within the party.

Ashok Tanwar endorsed general secretary Digvijaya Singh's remark that the party was in "a state of confusion".

And when Sudhakar Reddy wanted to raise the Telangana issue, Rahul told him to focus on organisational issues.