Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi interacted with Panchayati Raj representatives as part of the manifesto consultation process at Sevagram (Wardha) on January 24, 2014.

'Political parties must include local bodies in their decision making processes,' Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, said.

He said that 'we need to deepen democracy by empowering our Pradhans, our MPs and our MLAs'. Addressing the large number of Sarpanches and Pradhans gathered for the manifesto consultation process, Rahul Gandhi said 'we cannot transform the political system unless we empower the Pradhan'.

The Congress Vice-President said that three things need to change if we are to make India a superpower. 'The centre of the problem in India is that less than 200 people decide on every candidate. We should be working towards giving voice to people,' he said. Secondly, Rahul Gandhi said 'India will only be half strong, half proud, half powerful if we don't empower our women'. Thirdly, he said that we need to provide 'strength to our youth to take the country forward'.

Citing the manner in which PCOs transformed India by breaking the monopoly of a few, Rahul Gandhi said 'you must transform the political system the way PCOs transformed communications'.Watch Rahul Gandhi at INC Manifesto Consultation With Panchayati Raj Representatives With HD Quality.