Form of words:
New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting convened on Saturday to address the grievances of the party leaders, which faced organizational challenges, again ended the Gandhi family’s dominance in the party, a major hesitation from its opponents. In. The CWC meeting also became an exercise to enable avenues for Rahul Gandhi’s reappointment to the role of party president.
The party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi began the meeting with her address, where she spoke about her contribution to the party in her role – as well as took a potshot who talk to him “through the media”. She said she appreciates the clarity, but “what should be communicated outside the wall of this room is the collective decision of the CWC.”
“The entire organization wants revival of Congress. But for this unity and the interests of the party need to be kept paramount. Above all, it requires self-control and discipline,” she said.
Congress leaders present at the meeting said that while saying these lines, Gandhi looked at Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad, who came at the end of his address. Both Sharma and Azad are part of a group of 23, called ‘G23’, which wrote to Sonia Gandhi in August 2020, seeking “full-time and effective leadership”. Since then the demands have only strengthened, the most recent being Comments By Kapil Sibal, also a member of G23. Sibal demanded that a meeting of the CWC be convened to discuss the challenges being faced by the party.
But Sonia Gandhi’s scathing inaugural speech set the tone for the rest of the meeting, with Azad even saying that he “never questioned Sonia Gandhi’s leadership” and believed in her commitment to the party.
After this, various leaders called upon Rahul Gandhi to take over the post of party president during the meeting.
The first to do so was former Defense Minister AK Antony, who said the party would like Rahul Gandhi to “play the role” of party president. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot immediately agreed with Antony’s suggestion, saying, “This is what we want.”
After this, other leaders including Ambika Soni and Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi also said that Rahul Gandhi should take over.
After the CWC meeting, Soni even told the media that “all leaders of the Indian National Congress unanimously want Rahul Gandhi to become the party president,” adding that whether he agrees or not, it is his call.
There was no mention of G-23 there. He was present in the meeting. Congress is not divided into factions, we are one. All the leaders of the Indian National Congress unanimously want Rahul Gandhi to become the party president. Process (for elections) will start in September (2022): Ambika Sonik pic.twitter.com/8PfDAxvJ4h
— ANI (@ANI) 16 October 2021
Leaders present at the meeting told ThePrint that while addressing all his requests to be the next party president, Rahul Gandhi replied: “I will consider.”
This was the first time since Rahul Gandhi stepped down as party president following the 2019 Lok Sabha defeat that the leader responded positively to the party’s demands to resume his responsibilities.
Read also: As Congress units collapse, TMC in trouble, feels from G-23 leaders
Rahul Gandhi on the need for ‘ideological clarity’, becomes Dalit chief minister
In the meeting, organization general secretary KC Venugopal presented the program of internal elections of the party, according to which Voting for the post of party president To be held between 21st August to 20th September 2022.
Punjab CM Channi went a step further, saying that the party “should not waste a year” and Gandhi should immediately assume the role of working president till next year’s elections.
Leaders present at the meeting said Channi and Rahul Gandhi also enjoyed moments of mutual admiration at the CWC meeting, when the latter narrated a story about the CM. Rahul Gandhi said the latter broke down when he told Channi in September that he was the new CM of Punjab.
Rahul Gandhi said that in the past he has told many leaders that he has been appointed CM of different states, but no one is ever broken. He used this example to highlight how difficult it is for Dalits to hold positions of power in the country, and how “the Congress is trying to change that.”
Rahul Gandhi then delivered a speech on the “need for ideological clarity” to the people of Congress.
“Ideological clarity exceeds that of any office, any leadership position. This is at the core of Congress, so we are in Congress,” a leader present at the meeting quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying.
In this meeting, which lasted for about four hours, the General Secretaries of various states also saw a presentation on the ongoing preparations for the elections.
Read also: Congress-mukt Bharat is no longer just the dream of BJP. Other parties want the same
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