AICC resolution: Congress's effort to reclaim concept of nationalism

In a key political moment after the 2024 general elections, the Congress concluded its two-day AICC session in Ahmedabad with the adoption of a comprehensive 12-page resolution. The document reasserts the party’s ideological positioning, outlines its stance on nationalism, social justice, and economic concerns, and calls for unity against BJP’s policies. However, the resolution misses a detailed plan for internal organisational reform.

Congress’s brand of nationalism

One of the most notable elements of the resolution is the Congress's effort to reclaim the concept of nationalism. Responding to repeated accusations by the BJP, the party sharply distinguishes its definition of nationalism from what it calls the BJP’s “pseudo-nationalism”.

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“Congress’s nationalism is about unity, diversity, and harmony,” the resolution states, contrasting this with the BJP’s approach, which it accuses of fostering a North-South divide, language-based polarisation, and caste divisions.

This framing is an attempt to reposition the Congress as the original nationalist party, rooted in the independence movement and the principles of Gandhi and Nehru.

Constitution under attack

Staying consistent with its 2024 election messaging, the resolution strongly emphasises the need to protect the Constitution from what it calls systematic assaults by the BJP government.

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The Congress outlines threats to the federal structure, the idea of India’s diversity, and institutional autonomy. It reaffirms its alignment with INDIA bloc partners in countering these threats.

In this context, the party reiterates its campaign for social justice, including a push for caste census and equitable reservation policies for underrepresented groups.

Clarifying stand on reservation

The party uses the resolution to set the record straight on its role in shaping India’s reservation policy — something the BJP has often targeted.

It recalls how the first constitutional amendment, brought in by the Congress, was aimed at ensuring reservation after a court struck down Tamil Nadu’s quota scheme in 1950.

The Congress also highlights that it was under Narasimha Rao’s prime ministership in 1993 that the Mandal Commission report was implemented, granting 27 per cent reservation for OBCs. The resolution further supports sub-quotas for SC/ST/OBC women within the Women’s Reservation Bill.

New language, old values

Interestingly, the resolution marks a rhetorical shift — replacing the word “secularism” with “national harmony”.

While quoting Sardar Patel’s use of the word secularism, the party avoids using the term elsewhere in the document, opting instead for “national harmony”. This seems to be a strategic rebranding to make its message more acceptable in a political climate where “secular” is increasingly framed as partisan.

The resolution says harmony isn’t just about religion. It includes regional, linguistic, caste-based, and inter-state harmony too — a broader umbrella to project inclusivity.

Economic and foreign policy critique

On the economic front, the resolution attacks the BJP government for failing to provide a legal MSP guarantee, failing to create jobs, and ignoring MSMEs in favor of crony capitalism.

On foreign policy, the Congress raises concerns about the government’s weak responses to international developments —including violence against minorities in Bangladesh, US President Donald Trump’s tariff actions against India, and Chinese transgressions on Indian territory.

These points underscore what the Congress sees as the Narendra Modi government’s failure to project India’s interests boldly on the global stage.

Positive pitch amid criticism

According to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, the resolution is not just a litany of complaints but includes a future-facing vision. “We must speak to the youth about what lies ahead, not just what went wrong in the past,” Tharoor said during the session.

The resolution does attempt to balance critique with aspiration — a narrative that counters BJP’s governance while offering Congress’s alternative.

Organisational vacuum remains

Despite all the ideological clarity and messaging, the resolution disappoints on one front: organisational reform.

While it reaffirms 2025 as the year of internal rebuilding, it offers no specific roadmap or action plan. The lack of detailed measures on party restructuring remains a key gap — something observers note could be a major weakness heading into upcoming elections.

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