'Old' Congress to get a 'Youthful' makeover

New Delhi, Jan 19: With its eyes set on 2014 General Elections,

is planning for a makeover. In a desperate attempt to win back the trust of voters, Congress is all set for a youthful makeover. The makeover mission seems to target the young population of the country as they form sizeable number of vote bank.

Sources say Congress is toying with the idea of reserving 30% of all party posts for people below the age of 45 years.

At Chintan Shivir, which is underway at Jaipur, Congress seems to be determined to get a makeover to come out of its crisis like situation. The party has been hit hard by a large number of corruption charges and failure to provide security to Aam Aadmi. With Rahul Gandhi, the young face of Congress, to lead the party in 2014 General Elections, it seems ideal for Congress to bring more young faces and energy into it.

In a candid message to her party, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday, Jan 18 drew attention to its weaknesses such as lack of unity, personal ambitions and ostentatious displays of wealth while calling for introspection in the face of challenges ahead.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due in about 15 months, Gandhi spoke about the strengths and weaknesses of the Congress on the opening day of a 3-day conclave here at which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi and the entire leadership is present.

The brainstorming conclave (Chintan Shivir) was a forum for an "honest conversation among ourselves", she told Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and hundreds of other participants.

OneIndia News