Reinvent: Pitroda to Cong

Sam Pitroda who played a key role in India's telecom revolution says that Cong needs to reinvent itself in order to remain relevant.

The Congress needs to reinvent itself, have younger leaders and a fighting attitude, feels Sam Pitroda, who, as the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's technology advisor, is credited with playing a key role in India's telecom revolution.

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"The Congress has to have a little more fighting attitude and rely a little more on the younger generation, Some of it is happening and a little more should happen," Pitroda said today, responding to questions at a news conference he addressed at the Congress office here.

"Every party needs to reinvent itself. Organisation is born...Matures..Gets old and senile. It really needs to do soul-searching. Otherwise organisation suffers. It's same for all parties and companies", he said speaking in general terms.

He cited the 'classic example' of the Labour party in England, which, he said, came back to power after being out of it for some decades and reinvented itself, developing new strategies.

"In a country like India, where 50 per cent of the people are below 30 years of age, we need young people in the mainstream. It's a problem in the party (the Congress). I will be the first person to say it openly. This party needs more younger people. The younger generation must come in the mainstream", he said.

Pitroda added "this is a country of young people. It cannot be ruled and managed by people in (their) 70s. But it will take time".