Sonia Gandhi to remain Congress president, decides CWC
What's the story
Sonia Gandhi will continue as the Congress president, the party's top decision-making body - Congress Working Committee (CWC) decided on Sunday after a four-and-half-hour meeting. The decision came amid calls for organizational overhauls to revive the party's dwindling electoral fortunes. Notably, the party suffered a crushing defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections in five states.
Statement
We all have faith in her leadership: Kharge
"Congress party will be fully prepared to face the electoral challenges in the forthcoming elections including the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. CWC unanimously reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and requested her to lead from the front," read the official statement from the party. "We all have faith in her leadership," senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters.
Quote
"We discussed how to take things forward"
Giving information about further plans, AICC Goa in-charge, Dinesh Gundu Rao said, "Sonia Gandhi continues to be the president of the party. Detailed discussion held about the five states elections. We discussed how to take things forward and how we prepare for the forthcoming elections."
Attendees
G-23 leaders also among attendees
Besides Sonia Gandhi, the meeting was also attended by former party chief Rahul Gandhi, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, senior leaders KC Venugopal, Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and P Chidambaram, among others. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, and Mukul Wasnik, members of the G-23 group that has been seeking reforms in the party's structure, were also among the attendees.
Meeting
Sonia chaired PSG meeting earlier today
Earlier on Sunday, Sonia Gandhi chaired the party's Parliamentary strategy group to discuss the poll debacle. As per a report by The Indian Express, Kharge expressed doubts that certain parties may not join Congress in the Opposition due to the altered political landscape after the election results. Party leader Anand Sharma then advised reaching out to other parties informally before organizing a formal meeting.
Elections
Congress suffered humiliating defeat in elections
The results of the five assembly elections have shocked Congress as it was routed in all five states. The party had hoped to do well in order to resurrect its prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It was also hopeful to fend off the emerging challenge from AAP and TMC to replace it as the fulcrum of anti-BJP politics in the country.