The Evolution of Congress: From Bhavnagar 1961 to Ahmedabad 2025

Ahmedabad, April 8 (NationPress) As the Congress party makes its way back to Gujarat for its All India Congress Committee (AICC) gathering after a lengthy gap of 64 years, one cannot help but ponder: what transformations have occurred for the Grand Old Party from Bhavnagar 1961 to Ahmedabad 2025? The differences are striking because when the AICC convened in Bhavnagar in 1961, Congress stood as the unrivaled political powerhouse across India.

Jawaharlal Nehru was at the helm as Prime Minister, steering a nascent nation through economic planning, non-alignment diplomacy, and industrial growth. Back then, Congress represented not merely a political entity, but a movement that had propelled India from the freedom struggle into the realm of nation-building. During that Bhavnagar session, Nehru articulated the necessity for unity amid diversity and cautioned against complacency. “Our challenges are not yet over,” he asserted. “We have secured freedom, but now we must ensure bread, education, and dignity for every Indian.” These words resonated with the confidence of a party in power, yet cognizant of its obligations.

Fast forward to 2025, and the party assembles in Ahmedabad within a drastically altered political environment. The BJP has maintained its rule over Gujarat without interruption since 1995, and with the ascent of Narendra Modi, Congress has been relegated to the sidelines. Once the leading voice in Gujarati politics, Congress is now grappling with its significance, having endured consecutive electoral setbacks at both the state and local levels.

In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, Congress recorded its most dismal performance, capturing only 17 out of 182 seats and garnering less than 27 percent of the vote share. This followed a near-collapse in the 2021 municipal elections, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) surpassed Congress in urban areas like Surat. The signs of trouble have been evident for some time: unless the party undergoes a fundamental transformation, its prospects in Gujarat -- and possibly on a national scale -- are in serious jeopardy.

The Ahmedabad convention, which features a session of the Central Working Committee (CWC) and a full AICC meeting at the Sabarmati Riverfront, is therefore not merely symbolic -- it is a matter of existential importance. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are in attendance, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to join the AICC session on April 9.

Rahul Gandhi has consistently framed Gujarat as more than just a political battleground; he views it as the essence of India’s democratic and secular legacy. During the 2022 Assembly election campaign, he remarked, “Gujarat is not just a state; it's an idea -- of justice, enterprise, and harmony. The BJP has commandeered that idea with fear and cronyism. But we are here to revive the true spirit of Gujarat.” This vision has formed the crux of the Congress party’s narrative in the state, aiming to challenge the BJP’s longstanding dominance.

At a press event in Ahmedabad that same year, Rahul Gandhi highlighted the Congress’s approach from the grassroots, stating, “We are not here to make promises; we are here to listen. The Congress aims to rebuild Gujarat -- not from the top down, but from the ground up, centering around farmers, workers, women, and youth.” This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reconnect with the grassroots and restore the party’s diminished support base in the state. Gandhi also referenced Gujarat’s historical significance to the Congress and to the nation. “This is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Both epitomized unity and truth. We come to Gujarat not merely to contest an election but to uphold their legacy,” he stated during the Gujarat leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.

His remarks underscore the symbolic importance Gujarat holds in the Congress' national narrative. Despite recent electoral setbacks, Gandhi remains steadfast about the party’s resurgence in the state. “It may require time, but we will rejuvenate the Congress in Gujarat. Our struggle is not solely political; it is a quest for the soul of this state,” he asserted during the Navsarjan Yatra in 2017. These sentiments reverberate as the party convenes in Ahmedabad in 2025 for its first AICC gathering in over six decades, signaling not only a strategic shift but an emotional and ideological recommitment.

Back in 1961, the Bhavnagar convention also emphasized economic reforms, food security, and Panchayati Raj -- a vision articulated by Nehru and later championed by Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi played a pivotal role in restructuring the party during the 1960s, laying the groundwork for her eventual leadership. Today's Congress faces a different challenge: how to stay relevant in an age characterized by hyper-nationalism, digital campaigns, and personality-driven politics.

The Gujarat Congress has recognized these challenges.

According to insiders, the party encountered numerous obstacles even while organizing the convention. Reports indicate that permissions were denied at two venues in Ahmedabad. Nevertheless, the party persevered and secured the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial and the Sabarmati Riverfront for the sessions. Approximately 3,000 delegates from across the nation -- including Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states, state presidents, CWC members, and special invitees -- are participating in the convention.

Over 1,700 leaders are lodged in 35 hotels across Ahmedabad. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) is serving as host, aiding with logistics and hospitality. Gujarat Congress leaders are optimistic that this two-day gathering will reinvigorate the party’s cadre. “We’ve faced tough times, no doubt. Yet, we also have a legacy of struggle and transformation. This convention offers a chance to reconnect with that spirit,” remarked a senior state Congress leader, wishing to remain anonymous.