Congress CWC Meets After Bihar Setback, Focus on G RAM G Law and Key Political Issues

Senior Congress leaders, including members of the Gandhi family, chief ministers from Congress-ruled states and party MPs, attended a meeting of the Congress Working Committee in New Delhi on Saturday to finalise the party’s political roadmap for the coming year. The meeting is the first major organisational exercise after the party’s poor performance in the Bihar elections.

Sources said the CWC deliberations are centred on mobilising public opinion against the G RAM G law, which replaced the UPA-era rural employment scheme MGNREGA. The Congress has described the new law as “anti-people” and plans to take its opposition campaign to the grassroots. Party leaders view the renaming and restructuring of the rural jobs programme as an attempt to dilute the legacy of welfare legislation introduced during the UPA government.

The Congress Working Committee is expected to firm up a nationwide agitational strategy against the Centre over the G RAM G law. While the scheme increases guaranteed rural employment from 100 to 125 days annually, the party has raised serious concerns over its funding structure. Under the revised framework, states are required to share the wage burden, unlike the earlier arrangement where the Centre bore the entire cost. Congress leaders argue that this could strain state finances and weaken the effectiveness of the programme.

Apart from the employment law, legal and environmental issues are also high on the agenda. The CWC is likely to discuss the National Herald case involving Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Delhi High Court after a trial court declined to take cognisance of its money laundering complaint, prompting renewed political focus on the case.

Environmental concerns linked to the Centre’s move to redefine the Aravalli range are also expected to be debated. Party leaders are expected to take a position on the implications of the revised definition, which critics say could open large tracts of land to mining activity and undermine ecological protection.

The meeting is also likely to touch upon the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, which have drawn condemnation from several quarters, as well as internal political developments in Karnataka. With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah present, speculation remains over whether the leadership tussle involving D K Shivakumar will be addressed, amid continued pressure from rival factions within the state unit.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to steer the discussions as the Congress attempts to regroup, sharpen its political messaging and reclaim momentum ahead of crucial electoral battles next year.