Congress will emerge stronger again: Shinde

Former Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today expressed confidence that Congress would again emerge as the most powerful party in the country and hinted at some organisational changes for better future prospects.

Congress has faced worst defeats in the past than that of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Even during the times of strong political leaders like Indira Gandhi, after the imposition of emergency, the Opposition said we (Congress) would not come to power. But we emerged stronger than ever in the next five years, Shinde said. The Congress will emerge as the most powerful party once again, Shinde, who attended a function to mark party's 130th Foundation Day at Tilak Bhavan in suburban Mumbai, said. The former Union Home minister said there will be organisational changes in the party for better future prospects though he refused to elaborate further. Replying to a query on Congress's defeat in Maharashtra Assembly polls, Shinde said it was disastrous and not expected by any leader of the party. Taking a dig at the BJP's make India Congress-free slogan used by the top leaders in their campaigns, Shinde said the party (BJP) was not in a position to rout the Congress from the country. Our party has firm ideological roots in the country since the last 130 years, Shinde said. While state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre and some other party functionaries attended the event, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, former minister Narayan Rane and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil were conspicuous by their absence.