Congress Returns to Gujarat for National Convention After 60 Years
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Synopsis
The Indian National Congress will host its national convention in Ahmedabad on April 8 and 9, marking the first AICC meeting in Gujarat since 1961. This significant event coincides with the upcoming 150th anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth.
Key Takeaways
- First AICC meeting in Gujarat since 1961.
- 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 2025.
- Significant events planned at the convention.
- Over 3,000 delegates expected to attend.
- Cultural programs celebrating Gujarat's heritage.
Ahmedabad, April 7 (NationPress) After an interval exceeding six decades, the Indian National Congress is poised to conduct its national convention in Ahmedabad on April 8 and 9. This noteworthy return signifies the first occasion since 1961 that the party’s principal decision-making assembly, the All India Congress Committee (AICC), will convene in Gujarat -- a region with profound historical connections to the party and India’s independence struggle.
The announcement was made by Dr Manish Doshi, Media Convener of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, on Sunday.
The convention is set against a backdrop of rich historical significance. In 2025, the country will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the pioneering leaders of independent India and a stalwart of the Congress. Additionally, this year marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi, who acknowledged the significance of Congress’ ideology in India’s quest for independence, took up the party’s presidency. Dr Doshi highlighted that hosting the convention in Gujarat pays tribute to these legacies, especially considering Sardar Patel’s role as the first and longest-serving president of the Gujarat Congress.
The last AICC meeting in Gujarat was conducted in Bhavnagar in 1961. Prior to that, the 1938 Haripura session in the Surat district, led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, made history by adopting the ‘Purna Swaraj’ resolution, which called for complete self-rule.
Previous Congress assemblies in Gujarat include those in Ahmedabad in 1902 and 1921 and in Surat in 1907 -- all pivotal moments in the advancement of India’s national movement. The two-day agenda for the 86th Indian National Congress session is filled with significant events.
On April 8, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s top policy-formulating body, will meet at 11.00 a.m. at the historic Sardar Smarak in Shahibaug. Later that day, at 5.00 p.m., party leaders and delegates will come together for a solemn prayer gathering at Sabarmati Ashram, a symbolic center of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom movement. The evening will culminate in a cultural program at 7.45 p.m. at the Riverfront Event Centre by the banks of the Sabarmati River, celebrating Gujarat’s heritage and its contributions to the Congress movement.
The national convention will take place on April 9, also along the Sabarmati River, with over 3,000 delegates anticipated from across the nation. Notable Congress leaders -- including National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states, state presidents, CWC members, and special invitees -- are expected to attend.
Dr Doshi underscored that this gathering is more than just a political event; it represents an opportunity for Gujarat to once again provide a new vision for the nation. “Preparations are in full swing. The people of Gujarat are excited, and this convention is expected to set a new course -- both for the state and for the Congress at the national level,” he stated.
Hosting the convention in Gujarat is regarded as a significant honor for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, which aims to revitalize its political momentum in a state that has historically been a BJP stronghold.
