Cause for cheers in Congress? Party may soon lift ban on ‘alcoholic drinks’

At its plenary session, Congress is expected to amend a long-disputed clause in its constitution that deems members must abstain from ‘alcoholic drinks’ to stay in the party.

Venue of the Congress plenary meet in Raipur, where the strict anti-alcohol clause may be loosened up | Credit: Ishadrita Lahiri | ThePrint

Raipur: Congress members may soon have the party’s go-ahead to consume liquor, although, somewhat confusingly, “intoxicants” will continue to be off limits, ThePrint has learnt.

The Congress is expected to loosen up the strict abstention policy in the party’s constitution at its 85^th Plenary Session, to be held in Raipur from 24-26 February.

A clause, Article V(B) (c), that currently stipulates that a Congress member “abstains from alcoholic drinks and intoxicants” will now say that “he/she abstains from use of psychotropic substances, prohibited drugs and intoxicants”, claimed party leaders in the know. While alcohol is generally understood to be an intoxicant, this appears not to be the case as far as the Congress’s reasoning is concerned.

ThePrint has learnt that the Constitutional Amendment Committee, led by senior Congress leader Ambika Soni and convened by Randeep Surjewala, will introduce the change.

If this pans out, it will fulfill a long-standing wish of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has earlier advocated, without success, for modernising the nine  “commandments” of the Congress that members must swear to abide by.

Other than strict teetotalism, the commandments decree that members must weave and wear khadi.

Back in 2007, Rahul had suggested that such commandments could be made more flexible, but reportedly received pushback.

Again in October 2021, at a Delhi meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC) office bearers and state chiefs ahead of the party’s membership drive, Rahul reportedly asked the room how many people drink.

While a few of those present accepted they consumed alcohol, the discussion was put to a stop. The members who were inducted in the party during the membership drive had to take the oath of alcohol abstinence.

When asked about the amendment, Congress General Secretary (organisation) Jairam Ramesh refused to confirm that it was on the cards. But he did hint that the commandment was not exactly strictly followed.

“My understanding is that the (amended) clause is already there since 1920,” Ramesh told ThePrint on a lighter note.

Sources said that the amendment may be introduced in the party’s steering committee or subjects committee meeting to be held on 24 February. Thereafter, it has to be approved by the AICC to be included in the party’s constitution.

‘Expanded CWC, reservation’

Another amendment that is likely to be proposed to the constitution is to expand the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, sources said.

Presently, the CWC consists of the Congress president and 23 members, of whom 12 are elected while the others are nominated.

Under the likely new amendment, former presidents of the Congress, former prime ministers from the party, the Congress parliamentary party, and the leader of the party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be included in the CWC, over and above the 23 elected and nominated positions.

There is also expected to be an additional proposal to reserve 50 per cent seats in the CWC for SC/ST, OBCs, minorities, women, and those under 50 years of age, sources added.

At its Udaipur Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) last May, the party had passed a resolution proposing a ’50-under-50′ formula for the CWC, with half of the body consisting of leaders below 50 years. The amendment that is likely to be proposed at the plenary is a modification of this formula.

Additionally, the Ladakh Territorial Congress Committee, which was constituted as the party’s unit in 2020, after Ladakh became a separate Union territory, will be ratified.

(Edited by Asavari Singh)