Sonia Gandhi Stays Chief, Congress Decides In 4-Hour Post-Mortem

“The CWC unanimously reaffirms its religion within the management of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and requests the Congress President to steer from the entrance, tackle the organisational weaknesses, impact essential & complete organisational modifications with a purpose to tackle the political challenges,” the Congress mentioned in an announcement.

The get together additionally mentioned it is going to maintain a “Chintan Shivir” (brainstorming session) to give attention to the organisational elections after the finances session of parliament ends.

Greater than 50 leaders participated on the assembly — a quantity surpassing the mixed energy of Congress’s MLAs and MPs from the 5 states the place the elections had been held — Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Punjab.  

The size of Congress defeat had set off refreshed calls for for sweeping organisational modifications and an accountable management — first launched two years in the past when a bunch of 23 dissenters later dubbed the G-23, wrote an explosive letter to Sonia Gandhi.  

This time, searing criticism of the highest management got here from different quarters as properly, albeit off the report. There was criticism that Rahul Gandhi, who doesn’t maintain any official place after stepping down as Congress president after the get together’s second straight nationwide election defeat in 2019, continues to name the pictures.  

Selections by him and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been seen as being accountable for the get together’s crushing defeat in Punjab, a state it dominated, and Uttar Pradesh.

There are solely three members from the “G-23” within the CWC, Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mukul Wasnik. Sources mentioned Mr Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad made their factors overtly on the assembly.

Forward of the assembly, the Congress denied a buzz that the Gandhis will step down from official posts. A number of leaders tweeted their help to Rahul Gandhi.  

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot mentioned Rahul Gandhi needs to be the Congress chief. “For the final three many years, no one from the Gandhi household turned a PM or a minister. It’s vital to know that the Gandhi household is vital for Congress’ unity,” he instructed information company ANI.

This time, the Congress not solely misplaced energy in Punjab, one of many three states it guidelines by itself, but additionally the dominance it loved in Goa and Manipur. In Uttar Pradesh, it gained solely two seats and its voteshare dwindled to only 2.4 per cent.