New Delhi, May 18
As the Congress counts its losses, the stage is set for deliberations on issues of concern for the party, including extreme polarisation witnessed in the just-concluded elections, weak organisation that failed to deliver, poor communication campaign and an evident ideological wane within the party where workers in many areas did not come out to help candidates.

The Congress touched a historic low of 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha polls.

Leaders admit that among the gravest challenges for the Congress is waning ideological commitment within the party. "Unlike the old times when people joining the party had ideological commitment to it, today's entrants are driven by short-term gains. They want instant power and when that does not come they get disheartened. This crisis has to be tackled," said a Congress functionary on the eve of Congress Working Committee meeting called tomorrow by party chief Sonia Gandhi to analyse the causes for the Lok Sabha debacle and frame a road map for resurrection.

Many Congress general secretaries agree that discussions on Congress' depleting ideological strength were urgent. "We have reports that workers in some areas did not help the candidates. They were not driven enough by the ideology when we were fighting so hard against a poisonous communal campaign," said a general secretary.

Leaders feel the party organisation needs strengthening at the district and block levels. Party offices remained dysfunctional in many areas leading to poor coordination and low worker morale. "People did not know where to go for help. Many block and district Congress offices don't function," said a leader citing lackluster campaign as a major cause for the defeat.

"Ministers didn't care about party functionaries. Discussions on important matters were missing," said a leader.

Another worry is majority polarisation which the Congress believes helped the BJP get a massive mandate.