13:43 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Randeep Surjewala, Divya Spandana hit out at dissident leaders
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala defended Rahul Gandhi after Kapil Sibal responded to allegations of collusion made against signatories of a dissident letter. He urged Sibal to not spread”false media discourse”.
Leader Divya Spandana went ahead and accused the dissident leaders of leaking not just the letter but also the discussions occurring during the ongoing CWC meet.
Sh. Rahul Gandhi hasn’t said a word of this nature nor alluded to it.
Pl don’t be mislead by false media discourse or misinformation being spread.
But yes, we all need to work together in fighting the draconian Modi rule rather then fighting & hurting each other & the Congress. https://t.co/x6FvPpe7I1
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 24, 2020
Not only did they leak the letter to the media, they continue to feed/leak minute to minute conversations of the CWC meeting that’s going on right now to the media. Amazing!
— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) August 24, 2020
13:20 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Will resign if guilty of collusion with BJP: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said that he will resign from the party if he is found guilty of colluding with the BJP, sources told PTI. Azad, who was subject to harsh criticism while reading a dissenting letter sent to Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago, was responding to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the signatories.
13:01 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Never made a statement favouring BJP in 30 years, says Kapil Sibal
Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s remark that those who signed the letter seeking “sweeping changes” in the party was written in collusion with the BJP, senior leader Kapil Sibal said that he has never issued a statement in favour of the saffron party in the “last 30 years”.
In a tweet expressing dismay over Gandhi’s statement made during the CWC meet, Sibal mentioned his role in defending the party when it was under threat in Rajasthan and Manipur.
Rahul Gandhi says “ we are colluding with BJP “
Succeeded in Rajasthan High Court defending the Congress Party
Defending party in Manipur to bring down BJP Govt.
Last 30 years have never made a statement in favour of BJP on any issue
Yet “ we are colluding with the BJP “!
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 24, 2020
12:41 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
CWC platform for discussion: Rahul Gandhi hits out at signatories of letter
Criticising the leaders who signed a letter seeking leadership changes in the party, Rahul Gandhi said that the CWC is the forum for discussion of issues and hit out at the leaders for making it public through the media.
12:22 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Rahul Gandhi hits out at letter seeking organisational changes
Stating that the letter seeking “sweeping changes” in the Congress comes at a time when the party is putting up a fight in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and Sonia Gandhi was admitted to the hospital, Rahul Gandhi said that he is deeply hurt, CNN-News18 reported.
12:11 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Manmohan Singh, AK Antony criticise letter seeking ‘sweeping changes’
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader AK Antony criticised the letter signed by some leaders, which sought a leadership change.
Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi handed over a letter of response to KC Venugopal, sources told PTI.
12:03 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Begin deliberations to choose party chief, says Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi asked CWC members to “begin deliberations towards the process of transition to relieve her from the duty of party president”, sources told PTI.
Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh urged her to complete the full session.
11:46 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Meeting begins; Sonia Gandhi ‘determined to resign’, say reports
The Congress Working Committee meeting started behind schedule, with leaders like Manmohan Singh, Captain Amarinder Singh, Ashok Gehlot and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in attendance.
Sonia Gandhi started the meeting by requesting members to relieve her of the current role of party chief. She also spoke raised concerns about the India-China standoff in Ladakh.
11:33 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
BJP leader compares Congress to ‘school where headmaster’s child tops’
Speaking to reporters ahead of the CWC meet, BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Cabinet minister Narottam Mishra remarked that there are many eleigible candidates for the post of the party chief, “like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Raihan Vadra and Miraya Vadra”. “Congress members should understand that Congress is like the school where only headmaster’s child tops the class,” he said.
11:26 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Party echoes support for Sonia Gandhi
As leaders started joining the video-conference CWC meet, Congress leader Sachin Pilot acknowledged Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s “sacrifice for the greater good of the people and the party”.
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said Gandhis were the only “recognisable face” of the Congress, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Singh, in his statement, said there was a bid by “some Congress leaders” to “challenge” the Gandhi family leadership of the party. He added that this was not the time to raise such an issue, given the need for a strong opposition.
“We must not forget that in spite of the canard against Smt Sonia Gandhi, she led the Congress Party to victory in 2004 and made Atal Bihari Vajpayee sit at home,” Kamal Nath, who is the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief, tweeted.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, “The family that has sacrificed for the country’s independence and thereafter is well known. I do not agree with what is coming in the media. I cannot even imagine a Congress without Nehru Gandhi family.”
Mrs Gandhi and Rahul ji have shown what it means to sacrifice for the greater good of the people and the party.Its now time to build consensus and consolidate.
Our future is stronger when we’re united. Most Congress workers would like to see Rahul ji take over and lead the party— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) August 23, 2020
11:10 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Party workers gather outside headquarters
Ahead of the Congress Working Committee meet, party workers raised slogans outside the New Delhi headquarters, demanding that the chief should be from Gandhi family.
Congress worker Jagdish Sharma said, “We want Party President from Gandhi family only. Party will be destroyed & break away if any outsider is made President.”
Delhi: Congress workers raise slogans outside AICC office, demanding that Party President should be from Gandhi family.
Congress worker Jagdish Sharma says, “We want Party President from Gandhi family only. Party will be destroyed & break away if any outsider is made President.” pic.twitter.com/b5HzTptuhJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2020
11:06 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
23 senior Congress leaders demand ‘sweeping changes’ in letter
Twenty-three senior Congress leaders, including five former Chief Ministers, Congress Working Committee members, sitting MPs, and former Union Ministers, had written a letter calling for sweeping changes, and organisational elections from the block level till the CWC. Acknowledging the rise of the BJP, the letter noted that the fall in support base and losing the confidence of the youth are matters of serious concern.
11:06 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
23 senior Congress leaders demand ‘sweeping changes’ in letter
Twenty-three senior Congress leaders, including five former Chief Ministers, Congress Working Committee members, sitting MPs, and former Union Ministers, had written a letter calling for sweeping changes, and organisational elections from the block level till the CWC. Acknowledging the rise of the BJP, the letter noted that the fall in support base and losing the confidence of the youth are matters of serious concern.
10:57 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Sanjay Jha supports party leaders’ support to Rahul, Sonia Gandhi
Sanjay Jha, who was sacked as Congress spokesperson, tweeted ahead of the Congress Working Committee meet questioning why leaders across the country were not seeking a change in leadership. “We lose two Lok Sabha elections back to back both being the worst defeats of the Congress. It is followed by several state election losses. We surrender states in power back to the BJP. Not one meeting to debate failure in six years. And still some people don’t want change?” he wrote.
We lose 2 Lok Sabha elections back to back both being the worst defeats of the Congress.
It is followed by several state election losses.
We surrender states in power back to the BJP.
Not one meeting to debate failure in 6 yrs.
And still some people don’t want change???
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) August 24, 2020
10:32 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Sonia Gandhi offers to step down ahead of 11 am CWC meet
Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Sunday said that she is “not willing” to continue at the post. Her response came after a letter signed by 23 senior party leaders emphasised the need for a president that is active in field”.
10:28 (IST)
Congress CWC meeting today Latest Updates
Jammu and Kashmir Congress voices support for Rahul Gandhi
In a press release issue shortly before the CWC meeting, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee said that it “unwaveringly” supports Rahul Gandhi as the party’s chief, “if there is any change in Congress president”.
Jammu And Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee extends support to Rahul Gandhi to be the next party president “if there is any change in Congress President”. pic.twitter.com/OQbRupbYzu
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2020
CWC Meeting LATEST Updates: Amid a debate over the leadership issue, top Congress leaders are holding a meet in New Delhi through video-conferencing on Monday to discuss the matter.
“A meeting of the Congress Working Committee will be held on Monday, the 24 August, 2020 at 11.00 am via video conferencing,” AICC general secretary KC Venugopal had said in a tweet.
All permanent and special invitees to the CWC were invited to the meeting, where the leadership issue is also likely to be discussed, besides the current political situation in the country.
There has been a clamour within a section of Congressmen for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the president of the grand old party again.
The CWC meet comes close on the heels of Congress president Sonia Gandhi completing a year as the interim party chief, a post she accepted last year after her son Rahul Gandhi stepped down.
A debate is again raging in the Congress over the uncertainty related to its leadership.
In an official media briefing two days ago, the Congress said its workers across the country want Rahul Gandhi to take charge of the party.