AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge on Thursday said the year 2025 would be the party’s year of organisational empowerment while calling for efforts to increase its organisational strength recognising the demand, not just from within the party, but also from others who have lost hope in the NDA regime.Kharge, addressing the extended CWC meeting in Belagavi, reminded the top leaders of the discussions they had at the CWC meeting on November 29, that they decided to actively fight the atmosphere of disappointment Haryana and Maharashtra election results created.The CWC held its meeting in Belagavi to commemorate the centenary of the Congress session Mahatma Gandhi had chaired in the north Karnataka city.Kharge pledged to fill all vacant posts in the organisation and implement the Udaipur declaration to make the party combat-ready to win elections at all levels. He, however, urged partymen to identify young people who were ideologically committed and ready to protect the Constitution, and bring them into the mainstream.
The veteran Congress leader said hard-work alone was not enough, but a time-bound and solid strategy and direction was necessary. There was a need to bring forth local and new leadership. “We have the power of ideas, the legacy of Gandhi-Nehru and the heritage of great leaders. We will return from Belgaum with a new message and new resolve.”
COMMUNAL HATRED: 
Kharge referred to Gandhi’s message and emphasis on communal harmony and said it was said even after 100 years, the ruling party and its leaders were openly giving provocative slogans and and their top leaders are spoiling the harmony in society, spreading hatred between communities. “They are working to make people fight.”
The Congress would continue to fight for the ideology of Nehru-Gandhi and for Baba Saheb, Kharge said, while accusing the PM Narendra Modi of being ready to accept the mistake Home Minister Amit Shah committed with his comments. “Far from seeking an apology and resignation from Amit Shah, they supported the objectionable statement. The Prime Minister issued a statement in defence of the Home Minister. A false case was filed against Rahul Gandhi. This is the attitude of today’s rulers towards the Constitution and its creator. But we are not going to be afraid of anyone nor are we going to bow down.”
People’s faith in the electoral process was slowly diminishing as questions were being raised on the impartiality of the Election Commission, the AICC president said. A few days ago, they changed their conduct of election rules so that the sharing of information ordered by the court could be stopped, he said.
Kharge said addressing the CWC at Belagavi was his proud moment in his long political career. “Karnataka is my home state. My long political journey started here. Today I feel very proud that as Congress President, I have got the opportunity to be a part of the memories of the great responsibility that Mahatma Gandhi had taken up 100 years ago.”
