Reviving Panchayati Raj system more urgent than raising Lok Sabha strength to ensure personal political survival: Congress

The Congress on Friday (April 24, 2026) said the Panchayati Raj system has been an important medium for women's empowerment and its further revival is far more urgent than increasing the strength of Lok Sabha to ensure personal political survival.

On Panchayati Raj day, the Congress also said that it is fully committed to strengthening the spirit of Gram Swaraj and congratulated the village heads and members of the panchayats and local bodies across the country.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge credited the party for implementing the 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and said it was Rajiv Gandhi, who implemented the 73rd Constitutional Amendment that gave institutional strength to Panchayati Raj and brought democracy down to the grassroots level.