Spend time with cadre, Congress tells leaders

The directive comes in the backdrop of complaints from party workers that central functionaries were hardly available to them whenever they visited the party office in the national capital.

In an attempt to “re-connect” with the cadre, following the poll debacle, the Congress has asked all its office bearers to spend “maximum time” at the party headquarters when they are in Delhi.

The directive comes in the backdrop of complaints from party workers that central functionaries were hardly available to them whenever they visited the party office in the national capital.

The office bearers — 12 general secretaries and 44 secretaries — have also been told to ensure greater interaction with party workers coming from different states.

As both party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi have started introspection of the party’s rout in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the main complaint from party workers has been that there is complete disconnect between leaders and the cadre.

As part of the course correction after the poll drubbing, the party has also dissolved the state unit of politically important Uttar Pradesh.

All state, district and block committees of the party in Uttar Pradesh stand dissolved, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi announced. He, however, said that UP Congress chief Nirmal Khatri would retain the post.

Both Sonia and Rahul have spoken of bringing about structural changes in the party to meet the serious challenges ahead.