Routed Cong may revive 2-yr 'loyalty probation'

NEW DELHI: Congress is wondering if proven loyalty should be the criteria for accepting a sympathiser as a party member.
More than loud thinking and on the leadership’s discussion table, the idea is to revert to the old system that categorized Congress members into two groups – primary members and active members. A party enthusiast used to be accepted as member but had to work for two years before being considered “active”.At the same time, any person who made 25 primary members was granted the “active” status.
Well-placed sources said the leadership is considering if it is time to return to the old system which also introduced a “loyalty” test of two-year stay and scrutiny on a person’s ideological tilt before considering him a Congressman.
There has appeared a greater impetus on “loyalty” and “ideological commitment” of members since the party lost the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi had stressed that the membership drive should not be about numbers but should be about finding people with faith in Congress who would stay through thick and thin.

A decision on the issue has not been taken yet. The critics of dual-membership dub it a complicated system and out of sync with times. The system was changed at Burari plenary session in 2010 after years of debate on the drawback of two categories of membership. Also, reverting to the old system midway through the membership drive could complicate the process.
A senior Congress leader, confirming the debate within, said, “Anyone and everyone cannot be called a party member. There should be some sort of scrutiny on who he is, his commitment to the party. Else, why is the membership more than the votes the party gets in elections?”
This argument, that has gained momentum after the election rout, seems to be driving the debate for a return to pre-Burari days.