Important meeting of veteran Congress leaders held in Garhshankar constituency ***key decisions to strengthen the party

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/June 8

A major meeting of senior "taksali" (old-guard) Congress families from the Garhshankar assembly constituency was held under the chairmanship of Harvel Singh Saini. Party members discussed in detail strategies to rebuild the Congress's strength in the area and plans for the future. Party activists said during the meeting that the Congress suffered defeats in the 1987, 1992 and 2022 elections, while its vote share in 2022 fell compared with 2017. They blamed the performance of the constituency in‑charge for the party’s poor showing. The taksali leaders alleged that while activists go door-to-door seeking votes during elections, there is little outreach to workers and voters after polls; leaders become active only when elections approach.

For the first time in Garhshankar’s history, they said, several candidates lost their deposits in the municipal council elections for Garhshankar and Mahilpur wards; the party won only six of 34 block committee seats and none of the four zila parishad seats. Local leaders attributed these setbacks to flawed party strategy and the constituency in‑charge’s poor performance.

The leaders resolved to ensure party unity and work to secure the Congress ticket for a local candidate in the forthcoming assembly elections. They said candidates from outside the constituency would not be accepted and the high command would be asked to nominate only a local contestant. The leaders argued that whenever outsiders were given tickets, the party suffered; local candidates remain accessible to the people and help strengthen the party’s base.

Those present expressed confidence that the Congress would emerge stronger in the Garhshankar area in the coming period. They also decided to form a 21‑member committee that will prepare a detailed report on organisational activities and workers’ suggestions and submit it to the party high command.

Decisions taken by veteran Congress leaders of GarhshankarHold organisation-strengthening initiatives in the Garhshankar constituency under the leadership of Harvel Singh Saini.

Form a 21‑member committee to compile an organisational report and forward its recommendations to the high command.

Demand that only local candidates be considered for party tickets; oppose outsiders.

Redouble efforts to restore the party’s grassroots connect and maintain contact with workers and voters beyond election periods.

Prominent taksali leaders who attended included R. P. Soni, Narinder Mohan Nindi, Thakur Balveer Singh (former president, Block Congress Committee, Mahilpur), Sarita Sharma, Kulwinder Singh Bittu, Thekedar Kul Bhushan Shori, Mintu Thakur Samundra, Mohan Singh Thiara (former chairman, Market Committee, Garhshankar), Pawan Kumar Bhamian, social worker Ravi Mehta Rashpal Singh Pali (former committee member), Namberdar Jarnail Singh Saila, Lal Chand Lali Saila Bakhshish Singh, Jaskaran Singh Jaildar Bittu, Mohinder Singh Purkhowal, Harwinder Harman, Dr. Sunita, Jaswant Singh Rurki Khas, Nirmal Singh Boi Road Majara, Rohit Sharma, Amandeep Singh Raja, Gurwinder Singh Bains Rasoolpur, Ranveer Singh (former sarpanch, Chaurra), Jagdish Singh (former sarpanch, Denowal Kalan), Piara Singh (former sarpanch, Gogon), Nirmal Singh, Yara Singh, Kashmir Singh (former sarpanch, Chahalpur), Surender Singh, Mahinder Singh, Tejpal Singh, Jagmeet Singh, and several other veteran leaders