Chiplun (Maharashtra), March 1 Political alliances have impacted the Congress in the coastal Konkan region, and the party will now focus on strengthening its organization in the region, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said on Sunday.
Sapkal and other leaders attended a three-day training workshop for local body representatives of the Congress from the Konkan region in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district.
The Konkan region was previously considered a stronghold of the undivided Shiv Sena, before the BJP and the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, made a strong push.
In recent municipal and local body elections, the Congress, which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, secured some positions for municipal council presidents and councilor seats, but these victories were not enough to signify significant political strength.
Organizationally, the Congress faces leadership gaps and weakening grassroots networks in Konkan.
Addressing the concluding session of the workshop online, AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala accused the BJP of promoting divisive politics based on religious lines.
Chennithala said that the Congress has always upheld equality among all religions, while the BJP has allegedly fueled Hindu-Muslim divisions over the past decade.
"The Congress party has always taught equal respect for all religions and has engaged in politics by uniting all communities. However, for the last 12 years, the BJP has been creating Hindu-Muslim disputes and engaging in divisive politics in the country. This conspiracy to disrupt social harmony must be defeated," he added.
He appealed to party workers not to lose courage in the face of electoral setbacks and instead focus on strengthening the Congress organization at all levels.
Sapkal said the workshop was aimed at leadership development and energizing grassroots workers, especially in Konkan, where the party had suffered due to alliance politics.
He criticized the state government over the alleged neglect of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj memorial at Sangameshwar, claiming that repeated announcements were made but not implemented.
"The workshop was aimed at developing leadership and energizing grassroots workers. Political alliances have impacted the Congress in Konkan, and the party will now focus on strengthening its organization in the region," said the state Congress president.
Sapkal alleged that the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj memorial at Sangameshwar is in a very poor condition.
"Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) and ministers have repeatedly announced a memorial but have not implemented the project," he claimed.