Sonia Gandhi will continue as Congress party’s interim president for now, party leaders said.
Madam (Sonia Gandhi) will continue as Congress president and the election will take place as soon as possible which is the unanimous decision of the working committee, Congress leader KH Muniyappa said.
“Members expressed faith in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and urged her to continue leading party, she agreed,” senior party leader PL Punia said.
He said this following a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Monday.
In her opening remarks at the meeting, called in the wake of a section of leaders seeking a “full time and visible” Congress president, Sonia Gandhi made the offer to quit saying she had given a detailed reply on the issue to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.
Top Congress leaders are deliberating on the leadership issues during this virtual meeting of the party’s top decision-making body.
“I am hurt but they are my colleagues so let’s forget and work together,” said Sonia Gandhi, adding that an AICC session will be held within the next six months to elect the next party chief.
The CWC, reflecting the overwhelming view and desire of the rank and file of the Congress, unanimously resolved to strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in every possible way.
The party working committee made it clear that no one would be or can be permitted to undermine or weaken the party and its leadership at this juncture.
The CWC noted that inner-party issues cannot be deliberated through the media or in public fora.
It urged all concerned to raise such issues only in party fora in the interest of propriety and discipline.
The Congress Working Committee authorised Congress president Sonia Gandhi to affect necessary organizational changes that she may deem appropriate to take on the challenges.