After Maharashtra Civic Poll Debacle, Congress Leader Urges Party To Introspect
After municipal rout, Congress urged to introspect and reform in Maharashtra.
Mumbai: The Congress party’s poor performance in Maharashtra’s municipal elections has triggered calls for internal reform, with former legislator Anant Gadgil urging the party to move beyond traditional "money and caste" politics. Following a significant electoral setback, Gadgil called for a "Chintan Shivir," or brainstorming session, to address what he described as a disconnect between leadership and the grassroots level.
The Congress, which allied with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, RSP, and RPI (Gavai), secured only 24 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. This tally marks the party's lowest performance in the body’s history. In contrast, the alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena secured a majority with 89 and 29 seats, respectively.
Similar results were seen in the Pune Municipal Corp., where the BJP won 119 of 165 seats. The Congress, contesting in alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and other partners, managed only 15 seats.
Mr. Gadgil expressed concern over several internal issues, including the alleged sidelining of loyalists in favor of "party-hoppers" and a lack of pre-election training. He said that as Maharashtra is undergoing rapid urbanisation, the party must promote leaders who command public respect and middle-class support rather than relying on historical electoral arithmetic.
“At a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party has emerged victorious and the ruling Mahayuti alliance is engaged in negotiations over mayoral posts, the Congress must turn inward and assess its own shortcomings rather than remain focused on the political churn among its rivals,” Mr. Gadgil said.
The former legislator stressed that the party must rebuild its links with its core cadre and rural support base to remain politically relevant. He argued that strengthening the organizational structure is more vital than merely criticizing the mistakes of those in power.
Mr. Gadgil also cautioned against scapegoating specific members for the losses, advocating instead for a collective dialogue. “Rather than holding any one person responsible for the defeat, the party should engage in a broad-based internal discussion,” he said.
As urban centers continue to expand across the state, Mr. Gadgil insisted that the party's survival depends on its ability to recalibrate. “The party should promote leaders who command genuine public respect and enjoy the support of the middle class,” he said.
