Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday asked party chief ministers to provide good governance and try to emerge as model states, particularly in terms of democratic values and public welfare, which would help the party regain credibility.

The meeting with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states focused on government-party synergy, sensitive administration and delivery on promises made during the elections.

Sonia also asked the chief ministers to replicate the best practices and schemes in operation in other states.

A statement released by the party after the meeting said: “It was felt that in the prevailing dire socio-economic and political crisis in the country, perpetrated by the BJP governments at the Centre and in various states, the states ruled by the Congress are not only the standing safe sanctuaries of democracy, people-centric governance and economic remonetisation, but also the strongest bulwark against the BJP.”

The statement added: “It was pointed out that apart from the constant diabolic game of destabilisation that the BJP plays, its government at the Centre also leaves no stones unturned to create roadblocks in the implementation of central schemes and programmes by the Congress-ruled states. The need of an effective strategy to deal with this problem that includes exposing the BJP in front of the people was underlined.”

All the states presented reports on their achievements so far and spelt out how many manifesto promises had been fulfilled.

The meeting agreed that states where the Congress is governing can play a vital role in the party’s revival. For this, Sonia emphasised that unity among senior leaders and synergy between the government and the party was a must. She expressed concern at the power struggle among top leaders and factionalism and public bickering.

The importance of periodic monitoring of the government’s functioning by party functionaries was stressed. Leaders were told to take the membership drive seriously.

The meeting also discussed the plan for a nationwide agitation in October against the economic slowdown as well as for Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations.

States were asked to evolve their own strategies to communicate with young voters about the relevance of Gandhian values and the threat Narendra Modi government poses to peace and harmony in society.

The chief ministers of Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry — Captain Amarinder Singh, Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and V. Narayansamy — attended the meeting. As did Rajsthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and the general secretaries in charge of the states and the state party presidents. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders A.K. Antony, K.C. Venugopal and Ahmed Patel participated in the meeting.