CONSTITUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

1. Amendment of Article III - Constituents Article III (ii) is amended and substituted as under: “(ii) the Congress Working Committee.”

2. Amendments of Article III (v) and Rule Under Article III (iv)

1. Article III (v) is amended and substituted as under:- “v) Committees subordinate to the District Congress Committee like Block or Constituency Congress Committee, Intermediary Congress Committee, Panchayat and Ward Congress Committee and or other Subordinate Committees to be constituted by the Pradesh Congress Committee concerned.”

2. Rule Under Article III (iv) is amended and substituted as under:-

“The Pradesh Congress Committee with previous approval of the AICC President will have the right to increase the number of District Congress Committees and freshly delineate the area and jurisdiction as also constitute City Congress Committee in the cities with population of over Five lakh. The City Congress Committee thus formed will have the status of a D.C.C. (Urban)”

3. Amendment of Article IV- Territorial Division

1. In Article IV (a) is amended and substituted as under:-

“In clause (a) after State of Tamil Nadu at serial no. 26, the word Telangana under the heading Pradesh with its Headquarters at Hyderabad shall be inserted. The consequent states shall be renumbered accordingly”

2. In clause (b), after the Territory of Daman & Diu, serial no. 4, the word Ladakh under the heading Territory with its Headquarters at Leh shall be inserted.

The consequent territories shall be renumbered accordingly.

4. Amendment of Article V- Membership

1. Under Article V (A) a (i) the subscription money of membership is proposed to be increased from Rs. 5.00 to Rs. 10.00 and through physical or digital method. Article V (A) a (i) is amended and substituted as follows-

“(A) a (i) Any person of the age of 18 or over, who accepts Article I, shall, on making a written declaration in membership form until 31st December 2024 or digitally and On payment of Rs. 10.00 only as subscription for five years become a Member of the Congress, provided that he/she is not a member of any other political party, which has a separate membership, constitution and programme. With effect from 1st January 2025, all membership will be in digital form only.”

2. In clause (A) a (iv), provision is made for maintaining membership physically and/or in digital form. It is amended and substituted as follows: -

“(A) a (iv) Permanent Register of members within their jurisdiction shall be maintained by every Block/Constituency and City/Town Congress Committee physically until 31st December 2024 or in digital form with copies to the District Congress Committee, as per prescribed rules. With effect from 1st January 2025, permanent register of members shall be maintained in digital form only.”

3. Article V (A) a (vi) shall be added: -

“V (A) a (vi) - PCC may opt for enrolment of members through digital method and also maintain the membership data in digital form accessible to the authorized persons in DCCs, PCCs and AICC. With effect from 1st January 2025, membership shall be digital only.”

4. Article V (A) b (ii) is amended and substituted to review the delegate fee for being a PCC delegate and AICC delegate in following terms-

“V (A) b (ii) - Any member, who becomes a delegate or an office bearer of District Congress Committee, Pradesh Congress Committee or AICC (including the Departments and Cells of PCC & AICC) shall deposit an annual amount as follows:-

• DCC delegate or office bearer Rs. 500/ • PCC delegate or office bearer Rs. 1000/ • AICC member or office bearer Rs. 3000/”

5. Article V (B) (c), (f), (g) and (h) is amended and substituted as follows: -

“(c) He/She abstains from use of psychotropic substances, prohibited drugs and intoxicants.” “(f) - He/She undertakes and participates in tasks & projects for creation of public assets for the society, including shramdaan, blood donation camps, particularly for the deprived and poor sections, and conducts himself/herself in a manner to serve the cause of social justice, equality and harmony.” (g)- He/She has not violated the land ceiling laws nor has been convicted for an offence involving a heinous crime or moral turpitude.” “(h)- He/She subscribes to and works for promoting the principles of secularism, socialism, social justice and democracy; does not, directly or indirectly, openly or otherwise, adversely criticize the accepted policies and programmes of the party on public platforms, except through inner party forum.”

5. Rule Under Article V-Membership Forms

i. Rule l of Rules made under Article V is amended and substituted to include Digital Membership as follows-

“Rule 1- The Pradesh Congress Committee shall print Membership forms physically until 31st December 2024 or enroll membership in digital format. PCC Executive may authorise DCCs in writing to print membership forms. Any DCC, printing the membership forms without such authorisation, shall be liable to disciplinary action. With effect from 1st January 2025, all membership shall be in digital form only.”

ii. Rule 2 of Rules made under Article V is amended and substituted to include Digital Membership as follows-

“Rule 2- Membership forms shall be serially numbered and in the case of those printed by DCCs, they should bear the name of the District concerned as well. Full details of forms so printed shall be supplied by the DCCs to the PCC before they are issued to subordinate Congress Committees. The Digital Forms shall also be similarly numbered.”

iii. Rule 4 (a) of Rules made under Article V is amended and substituted to include Digital Membership as follows

Rule 4.(a) - The District Congress Committee shall be primarily responsible for the enrolment of members in the district. The PCC shall issue membership forms to the DCCs which in turn shall issue them to the subordinate Congress Committees and through them to individuals. Not more than 1250 membership forms shall be supplied to an individual at a time. However, in the case of MPs, MLAs, MLCs and AICC members and PCC Office bearers, 2500 membership forms may be supplied to such individuals at a time. More membership forms shall be supplied to individuals only when full account of the forms already supplied is rendered and the fees realised thereof are paid. The conditions prescribed above for filling up of physical membership form shall apply in the same manner to digital membership also.”

iv. Rule 4 (c) of Rules made under Article V is amended and substituted to include Digital Membership as follows-

“Rule 4 (c) - Forms for enrolment of members shall in no case be issued to individuals who are not members of the Congress. The restriction of persons, who are not members of the Congress, not being permitted to enroll members shall apply equally to digital membership.”

V. Rule 5 (c) to be added as follows:-

“Rule 5 (c) - In case of digital membership, it shall be the duty of the enroller to submit complete accounts. Any failure thereof shall result in disqualification from contesting the organizational elections.”

vi. Current Rule 6 (c) is deleted and renumbered as Rule 6 (d). Hence, the Rule 6 (c) and Rule 6 (d) are amended and substituted as under-

“Rule 6 (c) -The PCC, DCC or the subordinate Congress Committees, as the case may be, shall maintain similar electronic record of digital membership, akin to the physical records described in 6 (a) and 6 (b) above.”

“Rule 6 (d)- In order to give the Party a well informed and ideologically oriented cadre, the Congressmen at all levels shall participate in the training programms prescribed bythe Congress Working Committee for Members from time to time.”

6. Rule Under Article V (A) (a) (iv)

Rule Under Article V (A) (a) (iv) is amended and substituted as follows:

“Permanent Register for Members

Permanent Register of Members within their jurisdiction shall be maintained by every Block/Constituency and City/Town Congress Committee. Copy of the Permanent Register shall be sent to the DCC in physical or digital form.

The register shall contain the following particulars in respect of each member: (i) Serial Number (ii) Name (ii) Male/Female/Transgender (iv) SC/ST/OBC Minority (v) Father’s or Mother’s/Spouse’s Name (vi) Permanent Address (vii)) Present Address (viii) Age (ix) Occupation (x) Date of enrolment (xi) Voter ID Number (xii) Sl. No. and Name of Primary Unit (xiii) Form No. Date of Renewal of Membership (xiv) Term of Membership (xv) Date of deposit of Membership form (xvi) Remarks”

7. Rule Under Article V (A) (a) (v)- Renewal of Membership:

Rule Under Article V(A)(a)(v) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Renewal of Membership

Renewal of membership of a person will be deemed to have been completed by depositing subscription of Rs. 10/- as membership fee for 5 years. The deposit of fee shall be entered in the permanent register in the column specified for this purpose against the name of each member or shall be digitally recorded in the renewal of subscription form to be filled up digitally and submitted to the concerned DCC or PCC. The member depositing the fee shall be given a 6 separate receipt of payment. Such receipt books shall be printed and supplied by the PCC.”

8. Rule Under Article V (B) - Membership

The Rule 1 (c), (d), (g) and (h) under Article V (B) are amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 1 (c) - To Undertake Padyatras, house to house campaigns, shramdaan, blood donation camp and social sector projects including construction of streets/roads, chaupals, tree plantation, cleaning of slums, village sanitation and other such or similar campaigns prescribed by the respective Congress committees.”

“Rule 1 (d) - Training Programmes of political and ideological study as directed by the Working Committee/AICC/PCC from time to time shall be applicable to Members, Office bearers of the organisational Committees and Party legislators. Failure to participate in the programmes so laid down may attract disqualification for holding office in the organisation”;

“Rule 1(g)- Members should use and encourage Swadeshi goods or articles to the extent possible.”

“Rule 1 (h) - Members shall promote one or more of the following constructive activities:

i. Spread of Education and Literacy ii. Stopping Usage of Drugs. Psychotropic Substances and Intoxicants iii. Promoting Khadi & Village Industry as also MSMEs iv. Organisation of Youth and Students v. Organisation of Labour and SHGs vi. Organisation of Kisans & Khet Mazdoors vii. Small Savings Campaign viii. Village sanitation, health and hygiene ix. RashtrabhashaPrachar x. Promotion of Co-operatives xi. Work in the Constituencies xii. Seva Dal xiii. Providing service to persons suffering from Leprosy, HIV-AIDS, Cancer or other life-threatening diseases. xiv. Empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes xv. Removal of untouchability xvi. Work for National Integration work specially among minorities xvii. Adult education and library movement xviii. Sale of Party Literature xix. Any special programme as may be laid down by the Working Committee from time to time. xx. Work for equal rights of differently abled persons.”

9. Rule Under Article VI (ii) - Meetings of Congress Committee

Rule under Article VI (ii) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule under Article VI (ii) -The General body of PCC shall meet at least once a year and Executive Committee at least once in 3 months. Similarly General bodies of DCC shall meet at least once a year and Executive Committee at least once in a month or as often as required. The Intermediate (by whatever called) and Block/Constituency Congress Committees shall meet every month.”

10. Article VI-A- Reservation for Youth/Women/SC/ST/OBC Minorities

The Article VI-A is amended and substituted as follows:-

“(a) 50% of all delegates and office bearers in Intermediate Congress Committees, Blocks/City Congress Committees, District Congress Committees and Pradesh Congress Committees shall be reserved for SCs/STs/OBCs/Minorities, out of which half shall be members of SCs/STs. (b) Additionally, there shall be 50% reservation for persons below 50 years of age as also women, both in the reserved categories in clause (a) above as also in the unreserved category in the remaining 50%. (c) The AICC delegates and office bearers shall follow the same principle as in (a) and (b) above, to the extent possible.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the above provision in the Article VI(A) (a), Article VI(A) (b) and Article VI(A) (C) the Congress President shall have the authority to relax the percentage of sectoral representations for the categories stated above.”

11. Rule Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b)

i. The Rule I under Rule Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as iii. follows:-

“Rule 1- The election to Block Congress Committees from Primary Units shall be held as provided in the Constitution. For the purpose of election of the Executive Committee of the BCC, there shall be reservation of 50% for SCs/STs/OBCs/Minorities, out of which half shall be for SCs and STs. There shall be reservation for persons below 50 years of age, as also Women both in the reserved categories as also in the unreserved category in the remaining 50%. In case of shortfall in the requisite number of the reserved categories of Members, the shortfall shall be made good by co-opting upto 25% of the total membership and the members so co-opted will have full voting rights to fulfil the constitutional requirements of Article VI (A).”

ii. The Rule 2 under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 2 - For the purpose of election of DCC Members by Block Congress Committees, 3 seats out of 6 shall be reserved for SCs/STs/OBCs/Minorities/Youth and Women.”

iii. The existing Rule 3 remains unchanged. iv. The existing Rule 4 and Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 7, Rule 8, Rule 9 and Rule 10 are deleted. iv. The new Rule 4 under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 4 -For the election of members of the Congress Working Committee under Article XIX (a) of the Constitution, out of the 18 members to be elected by the AICC, not less than 6 members shall be elected from amongst SCs/STs/OBCs/Minorities/Youth and Women.

Among the total 35 members of Congress Working Committee (other than the President of the Congress, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, the Congress Prime Minister/Former Congress Prime Ministers, the Leaders of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and Former Presidents of the Congress Party), it shall be ensured that 50% representation is given to SCs/STs/OBCs/Minorities/ Youth and Women.”

V. The new Rule 5 Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 5 -The Ballot paper for elections at all levels should be a common Ballot paper indicating the reserved category of each candidate”

vi. The new Rule 6 Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:- “Rule 6 -The Ballot paper to be used in the elections to various bodies covering both Reservation category candidates and general category shall be the same.

vii. The new Rule 7 Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 7- At the time of counting in the first instance under both reserved categories, the women and SCs/STs/Minority and OBCs together who have got the highest number of votes in the order of ranking shall be declared elected. However, if any of them scores more than the rest of the general category candidates then such of the persons who have scored higher than the general category candidates shall be treated as won/elected from general category and the rest of the seats in the reserved category will be decided on the basis of highest ranking in each of the reserved category separately so as to fill up the rest of the number of seats.”

viii. The new Rule & Under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“Rule 8 - Wherever the word OBC occurs, it should also mean Backward Class (BC).”

12. Article VII Register of Members and Contribution to Party Fund

The Article VII is amended and substituted as under:-

“1. Register: (a) Permanent Register of Members shall be maintained by the DCCs in physical and digital form. A copy of the Permanent Register duly certified by the DCC President shall be made available to the PCC, in physical or digital form, as the case may be. The DCCs will issue Identity Cards with photographs of the members pasted on the cards under signatures of the Presidents of the DCC and PCC concerned. (b) The Pradesh Congress Committee shall supply a duly certified copy of the Permanent Register of Members within their jurisdiction to the Office of the AICC in physical and digital form and keep it informed of any changes made therein from time to time. (c) The Register shall contain the full name, address, age, occupation, place of residence and date of enrolment of every member. Membership shall cease by death, resignation, removal or non-payment of contribution and non-renewal of membership.

2. Contribution to Party Fund by Members/Office-bearers/Elected Representatives:-

Each Elected Representative of the Congress Party shall contribute to the Party Fund in following terms:-

(a) Individual contribution by delegates/office-bearers/members of the Congress party on regular or intermittent intervals or as per special drives undertaken by the party for specific causes in service of people and in furtherance of its objectives. (b) Door to door and online donation drives to be undertaken by the Block/City/ Intermediate Congress Committee /DCCs with the prior permission of the PCCs, also by Pradesh Congress Committee and All India Congress Committee. (c) Income Tax payee members of the party to contribute Rs. 1000/- every year. (d) Sarpanch/Head of the Gram Panchayat, Chairperson of the Block Samitis/Intermediate Samitis/Members and Chairperson of Zilla Panchayats shall contribute an amount equivalent to one month of their honorarium/salary, every year. (e) Members of the Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha), MLAS, MLCs shall contribute one month of their salary to the party, every year. (f) Any other amount or contribution that the Congress Working Committee may decide by resolution.”

13. Rule Under Article VII(I) (a) and (c):

Rule Under Article VII(I) (a) and (c) is substituted and amended as under:-

“1. Register:

The permanent register of Members, which will be maintained by the DCC, in physical or digital form, shall contain the following particulars about each Member: (1) Serial Number (i1) Name (iii) Male/Female/Transgender (iv) SC/ST/OBC/Minorities (v) Father’s/Mother’s or Spouse’s Name (vi) Address (vii) Age (vii) Occupation (ix) Place of residence (x) Form No.....of Membership as (xi)Voter ID Number (xi) Name of Subordinate Committee of which the applicant is member (xiii) Date of renewal of Membership (xiv) Term of Membership (xv) Remarks

The PCC will, however, on its own initiative or on appeal, scrutinize (delete or add) the Permanent Register of Members maintained by the DCC in physical or digital form.

2. Identity Cards: The DCCs will issue Identity Cards to each Member with his photograph pasted on it. The card will bear signature of the President of the DCC and PCC concerned. For this purpose, each Member shall submit a copy of his/her photograph of passport size to the DCC office.

3. Alterations in Registers: Alteration in the lists of Members and registers of Members, if any, necessitated by the decision of the Executive of the DCCs or PCCs as a result of disciplinary action taken, shall be recorded in red ink under the signature of the President or the Secretary of the Committee concerned, in physical and/or digital form.”

14. Rule Under Article VII (2) - Contribution to Party Fund by Members

Rule under Article VII (2) is amended and substituted as follows:-

“1. The contributions received from the members, delegates, office-bearers, elected representatives under the provisions of Article V, except contributions by AICC members, will be distributed as under:

Reserved for Central Election Fund: 50% AICC: 25% PCC: 12% DCC: 12%

2. The PCC shall immediately send to the AICC its share of the contribution i.e., 50% for the Central Election Fund and 25% for the AICC. The PCC shall also send the share of the DCCs to the respective districts.

3. The Subordinate Congress Committees below the DCC may be paid share of the contributions as may be determined by the PCC concerned from out of the share of DCC.”

15. Article IX Subordinate Congress Committees

The Article IX is amended and substituted as under:-

(a) The PCC shall constitute a Subordinate Congress Committee for a Panchayat Development Block or Panchayat Samiti or Panchayat Union, as the case may be, and it shall be known by the name “Block Congress Committee.” Provided that in any urban or otherwise special area, a Sub-ordinate Congress Committee may be constituted for such territory as may be determined by the PCC with the previous approval of the Working Committee and such Committee shall also be known by the name “Block Congress Committee.”

(b) The DCC may constitute Panchayat Congress Committee’ for each Panchayat or a group of Panchayats within the jurisdiction of Block Congress Committee. For the Urban area, the DCC shall similarly constitute Ward Congress Committee’. The ‘Panchayat and Ward Congress Committees? shall be subordinate to the Block Congress Committee.

The DCC shall also constitute ‘Intermediary Congress Committee’ for a group of Panchayats or wards, as the case may be. The Intermediate Congress Committee shall be subordinate to the Block Congress Committee.

(c) Every primary committee shall be subordinate to the Block Congress Committee for the area. All other committees shall be subordinate to the District Congress Committee.

(d) Every primary committee shall elect a delegate to the Block Congress Committee. A member who is enrolled in the basic unit shall be eligible to be a candidate, if he fulfills the eligibility conditions of Article V (A) (b). Such delegate shall be member of the Block Congress Committee.

(e) The Block Congress Committee shall consist of the Presidents of the primary committees subordinate thereto and the delegates elected by the primary committees.

(f) Where there are other subordinate committees such as Panchayat Congress Committee or Ward Congress Committee, the President of such Committees shall be co-opted as members of the Block Congress Committee.

The Presidents of Intermediate Congress Committee shall be coopted as members of the Block Congress Committee.

(g) The executive committee of Block Congress Committee shall also include the following as ex-officio members, in addition to the office-bearers of the Block Congress Committee- - Presidents of Panchayat Congress Committee/Ward Congress Committee/Intermediate Congress Committee - MLA(S)/MLC(S)/MP(S) from the Block - Congress Members elected as Chairpersons/Members of Local Bodies, Cooperatives and Agricultural Marketing Committees from the Block - Heads of Frontals/ Departments/Cells at the Block Level (h) The executive committee of District Congress Committee shall also include the following as ex-officio members, in addition to the office-bearers of the District Congress Committee- - Presidents of Block Congress Committees - MLA(S)/MLC(S)/MP(s) from the District - Congress Members elected as Chairpersons/ Members of Municipal Council/ Committee/ Corporations, Chairman/Members of Zila Panchayat, Chairman of Panchayat Samiti/ Intermediate elected bodies (by whatever name known), Chairman/ Members of District Cooperative Banks and other such District level Marketing Committees of the District - Heads of Frontals/Departments/Cells at the District Level.”

16. Rule Under Article IX- Subordinate Congress Committee

The Rule Under Article IX is amended and substituted as follows:-

1. Every Primary Committee subordinate to the Block Congress Committee, shall be entitled to elect one Member to the Block Congress Committee, provided however, that there shall be atleast 25 Members in that Primary Committee. The election shall be by show of hands and declaration of results shall be by a simple majority.”

2. A Subordinate Congress Committee will be deemed to have been constituted provided at least 50% of its Primary Committees have duly enrolled the requisite number of Members.

3. The Working Committee shall have the authority to relax the conditions prescribed in any of the Rules above in any special circumstances.”

17. Rule Under Article IX (b)- Intermediate Committee

The Rule Under Article IX (b) is amended and substituted as follows:-

The Presidents of the Booth Committee, the Presidents of the Panchayat Congress Committees or the Ward Congress Committees, as the case may be, shall be part of the executive of Intermediate Congress Committee (by whatever named called). The Intermediate Congress Committee shall comprise of a President, Vice President(s), General Secretary(s), a Treasurer and Secretary(s)..

18. Article X District Congress Committee

The Article X is amended and substituted as under:- “A DCC shall cover an area prescribed by the PCC in its Constitution and shall consist of: (a) Six members elected by secret ballot by each Block Congress Committee to the DCC as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee; (b) All ex-Presidents of the DCC who have completed a full term of 365 days and have continued to be members: (c) Members of the PCC who reside in or have been elected from the District; (d) Presidents of the Block Congress Committee, provided that they shall not be eligible to become either President or Secretary of the DCC; (e) Members of the Congress Legislature Party, both Central and State, from the district, provided that they are members; (f) Leaders of the Congress parties in Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and District Boards/Zila Parishads or Janpads in the District, provided that they are members; (g) Members co-opted by the DCC Executive as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee”

19. Article XI Pradesh Congress Committee The Article XI A (a) 2 (iii) is amended and substituted as under:- “(iii) From the Territorial Congress Committees of Andaman Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar-Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh and Ladakh Territories there shall be twenty five members each;”

The Article XI A (g) is added here under:-

“(g) That in addition to clauses (a) to (), the following shall be ex-officio members of the PCC- - Congress Chief Minister and Former Chief Minister(s), who continue to be members of the Congress party, - Chairperson(s) of the Zilla Panchayat(s)/Zilla Parishad(s) who have been elected on the symbol of the Congress party, - President(s) of the Municipal Corporation(s) who have been elected on the symbol of the Congress party, - President(s) of the State Cooperative Bank and State level Marketing Societies, who have been elected on the symbol of the Congress party” The Article XI B is amended and substituted as under:-

“Every member and office bearer of the PCC shall pay an annual fee of Rs. 1000 to the PCC of which 50% shall be remitted to the AICC as delegate fees.

He shall receive a certificate duly signed by a Secretary of the PCC that he is a member and has collected Congress Fund.

Any member, who fails to pay his subscription shall forfeit his right to exercise the functions of member, including the right to attend any meeting of the PCC, till such dues are cleared. The PCC shall forward to AICC Office a certified ist of Members not later than the date fixed by the Working Committee in that behalf.”

A new Article XI F shall be added as follows-

“F. That AICC President may constitute a Political Affairs Committee’ of the PCC in order to coordinate the political activities as also to deliberate the important policies issues and provide guidance thereon.”

20. Rule Under Article XI (B) Collection of Congress Fund

The Rule Under Article XI (B) Collection of Congress Fund is amended and substituted as under:-

“Every PCC member or office bearer shall undertake a campaign for collection of Congress Fund as directed by PCC or AICC and this may be collected against coupons of such denomination that the PCC or AICC may print and supply or against the receipt books that be supplied by the concerned PCC and full accounts thereof shall be rendered to the PCC and AICC.”

21. Article XIII All India Congress Committee

1. The Article XIII A (a), (c), (d), (e) and (t) is amended and substituted and a new sub clause (bi) is added as under:-

“(a) One-sixth of the number of the PCC members elected by them from amongst themselves by proportional representation according to the system of single transferable vote. provided that the number is not less than five; however four member each shall be elected from Chandigarh, Andaman Nicobar, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Ladakh TCCs.” (b) Congress Prime Minister and former Congress Prime Minister(s). (c) Ex-Presidents of the Indian National Congress, who have continued to be members of the Congress; (d) Presidents of the Pradesh Congress Committees and Chairman of the North East Coordination Committee provided that they shall not be eligible to become an office bearer of AICC; (e) Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and Leaders of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; (f) Leaders of the Congress Party in the Legislatures, both in State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils as also leaders of the Congress Party in Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Metropolitan Councils;

2. The Article XII B (ai) is added and Article XII B (g) is amended and substituted as under:-

“(ai) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Articles and Rules, the AICC President shall have the authority to relax the provisions thereof.”

3. The Article XII B (g) amended and substituted as under:-

“(g) Every member of the AICC shall pay an annual subscription of Rs. 3000/- and shall obtain a receipt thereof. He shall receive a certificate of his membership duly signed by one of the Secretaries of the AICC. Any member who fails to pay his subscription shall forfeit his right to take part in any of the meetings of the AICC, Subjects Committee or any Congress Session till such dues are cleared up.”

22. Rule Under Article XIII (B), Sub-Clause (g): Collection of Funds by AICC Members

The Rule Under Article XIlI(B), Sub-Clause (g) is amended and substituted as under:-

Every AICC member shall undertake collection of the Congress Fund as desired by AICC and this may be collected against coupons of such denomination that the AICC may print and supply or against the receipt books that may be supplied by the AICC and full accounts thereof shall be rendered by the member to the AICC/PCC.”

23. Article XIV Co-Opted Members

The Article XIV is amended and substituted as under:-

“The Working Committee and the Executive Committee at Pradesh and lower levels may co-opt upto25% of the total membership of the AICC, PCC and other lower Committees concerned as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee for giving representations to the sections not adequately represented amongst the elected members of the AICC. The Co- opted members at the AICC, PCC and lower levels shall not exercise any voting right in any organisational election nor shall they contest any election in the organisation, however, no person who is a co-opted member shall be debarred for that reason from seeking election to full membership of any Committee in normal manner.”

24. Article XVIII Election of the President

The Article XVIII (b) is amended and substituted as under:-

(b) Any hundred delegates may jointly propose the name of any delegate for election as President of the Congress. Such proposals must reach the Returning Officer on or before the date fixed by the Working Committee.”

25. Article XIX Working Committee

The Article XIX (a) and (b) is amended and substituted as under:-

“(a) The Working Committee shall consist of the President of the Congress, the former Congress President(s), the Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in Parliament, the Congress Prime Minister and former Congress Prime Minister(s), the leader of Congress Party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and 35 other members of whom 18 members will be elected by the AICC, as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee and the rest shall be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint a Treasurer and one or more General Secretaries from amongst the members of the Working Committee. The President will have power to appoint one or more Secretaries/ Joint Secretaries from elected members of the AICC. The Secretaries/Joint Secretaries will discharge the duties as may be assigned to them by the President. Ordinarily members of the Working Committee will be appointed from amongst the members of the AICC but in special cases, delegates who are not members of the AICC may be appointed; provided however, that a delegate so appointed shall cease to be a member of the Working Committee if he is not elected as member of the AICC within six months of his appointment.”

“(b) The Quorum for the Meeting of the Working Committee shall be 12.”

26. Rule under Article XIX (a): Working Committee

i. Rule 2 under Rule Under Article XIX (a) A is amended and substituted as under:- “2. Nominations should be proposed and seconded by atleast 12 members of the All India Congress Committee with full voting rights,” ii. Rule 7 under Rule under Article XIX (a) B is amended and substituted as under:- “7. The above rules framed under Article XIX (a) shall be read with the rules framed under Article VI (A) (a) and (b) regarding reservation for women, youth, SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and made applicable for the purpose of ensuring reservation for the above mentioned categories,”

27. Article XXV- Parliamentary Board

The Article XXV is amended and substituted as under:- Article XXV - Parliamentary Board “The Working Committee shall set up a Parliamentary Board comprising of the Congress President, the Congress Prime Minister, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary party in Parliament and 5 other members. The Congress President shall be the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Board.” Article XXV - (B) is deleted.

28. Article XXV-A Election Committees

A new Article XXV-A is added “Article XXV - A: Election Committees (a) The Congress Working Committee shall set up a Central Election Committee comprising of 12 members to be appointed by the CWC, including Chairperson of the Congress Party in Parliament & Leaders of Congress Party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, for the purpose of: (i) Making the final selection of the candidates of the State and Central Legislature, and (ii) Conducting election campaigns. (b) The Pradesh Election Committee shall consist of the President of the PCC/TCC, the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party and / or in case of a Union Territory the leader of Congress Party in the Assembly/Metropolitan Council, and not more than fifteen and not less than five other members, who shall be appointed by the AICC President. The President of the PCC or TCC shall be ex-officio Chairman of Pradesh or Territorial Election Committee. (c) The Pradesh or Territorial Election Committee, constituted in the above manner, shall recommend candidates for the Central and State Legislatures to the Central Election Committee. (d) The Central Election Committee shall frame necessary rules to give guidance to the Pradesh Election Committee in regard to the selection of candidates and other matters relating to the conduct of elections.”

29. Rule under Article XXV- Formation of Parliamentary Board

The Rule under Article XXV is amended and substituted as under:- “Formation of Parliamentary Board: The Parliamentary Board shall be set up by the Working Committee in the manner prescribed in Article XXV and the five members thereof shall be chosen from amongst the members of the Working Committee at its first meeting after its formation and shall continue in office till a new Board is set up.” The Rules Under Article XXV - (B) and (C) are deleted.

30. Rule under Article XXV-A- Formation of Election Committees

A new Rule under Article XXV A is added as under:- Rule under Article XXV-A-Formation of Election Committees Formation of Election Committees: 1. The Central Election Committee shall be set up by the CWC from amongst AICC members ordinarily and shall continue in office till a new CEC is set up. It shall function for the General Elections or any mid-term elections that might be held. 2. Pradesh Election Committee shall be set up by the AICC President ordinarily from amongst the Members of the PCC and shall continue in office till a new Committee is appointed.”

31. Article XXVII Miscellaneous

Article XXVII (a) is amended and substituted as under:- (a) A Committee may delegate any of its power to a smaller Committee or an individual. (b) Population figures of the last available census shall be the basis for all Congress purposes. (c) Where there is a question of the value of fractions, a fraction of one-half or more shall be treated as one, and less than half as zero. (d) Wherever in this Constitution, the word “vote” or any of its inflections occurs, it means or refers to a valid vote. (e) The Block, District and Pradesh Congress Committees shall elect from amongst its members the President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurers and members of their Executive Committees and from amongst the members of the Executive Committees. The Presidents of the respective Committees shall appoint Secretaries. (f) Any question or dispute arising under the Constitution with regard to provisions, contents, interpretations or the procedures laid down therein, between members and Committees or between Committees interse, shall be determined by the appropriate authorities indicated in this Constitution, and the decision of such an authority shall be final and binding on all members and Committees of the Indian National Congress, and shall not be liable to question by any of them in a court of law. (g) Any member who does not attend three successive meetings of any Congress Committee without prior intimation of his absence shall cease to be a member of the Committee concerned.”

Constitution Amendment Committee

According to the Press Release on February 10, 2023, by Hon’ble Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge has constituted the Constitution Amendment Committee, for the 85th Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress, to be held from February 24-26, 2023, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, as follows, with immediate effect.

Chairman - Smt. Ambika Soni Convenor - Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala

Members: 1. Shri K.C. Venugopal 2. Shri Mukul Wasnik 3. Shri Ajay Maken 4. Shri Jitendra Singh 5. Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi 6. Shri Mohan Prakash 7. Smt. Deepa Dasmunshi 8. Dr. G. Parameshwara