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The Congress Working Committee today unanimously urged former party president Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Leader of the Opposition. The CWC passed a unanimous resolution in this regard. Gandhi said, he will take some time to decide.

 

The meeting of the Extended CWC was held here today, which was among others attended by the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi, former president Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi, CWC members, permanent and special invitees PCC presidents and the CLP leaders. 

 

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Mr Venugopal said, it lasted for three and a half hours during which threadbare discussions were held on elections and their outcome. 

 

He announced that the Congress president will constitute a special committee to review the party’s performance including those where the party’s performance was below the expectations. 

 

Replying to a question on Rahul Gandhi becoming the leader of opposition, Venugopal said he had listened to the sentiments of the CWC members and he had asked for some time to decide.

 

The CWC passed a unanimous resolution saying, “the verdict of the people is not just a political loss but a personal and moral defeat for the Prime Minister who sought the mandate in his name and ran a campaign anchored on lies, hate, prejudice, divisiveness and extreme bigotry”. 

 

“The verdict of the people is clearly against the undermining of democracy and democratic institutions that has taken place since 2014”, the resolution added.

 

The CWC resolution thanked the people of the country for placing the Indian National Congress firmly on the path of revival. “Its leaders and workers persevered. People across the country have infused new life into the Indian National Congress for which it is truly grateful”, it added. 

 

The party fought a superb campaign the heart of which was a vigorous defence of our republic’s Constitution and the provisions for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs, the resolution said.

 

Underlining the need for a nationwide caste census, the resolution said, the Congress provided a clear alternative of political, economic and social vision. “The campaign had a distinctive pro-poor focus and highlighted the urgent need for a nation-wide socio-economic caste census to deepen social justice and empowerment and for addressing the demands of youth and farmers immediately” it noted.

 

The CWC put on record the contribution of the “four stalwarts” including Mallikarjun Kharge, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who spearheaded the party’s well-designed and well-executed campaign.

 

The CWC praised thesheer energy and determination of Congress President Mallikarjun Khargeji, saying it was an inspiration to everyone in the party. “He was bold and fearless both in Parliament and outside. Commanding such wide respect as he does for all his accomplishments in his long and distinguished political career he led from the front and shaped the party’s campaign in a most effective manner”, it said. 

 

The resolution praised the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party Ms Sonia Gandhi for being always available for guidance, advice and support saying her interventions at key moments of the campaign made a big difference. 

 

The CWC specially lauded Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her aggressive campaign, which was nothing short of being brilliant. “She exposed the BJP relentlessly in a most telling manner and communicated the Congress’s own key messages very powerfully”, it added.

 

The CWC resolution made special mention of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which he had designed and led.

 

“Both these Yatras that reflected his own thinking and personality were historic turning points in our nation’s politics and instilled hope and confidence in lakhs of our workers and crores of our voters”, it said, while adding, his election campaign was single-minded, sharp and pointed and more than any other individual it was he who made the protection of Constitution the central issue in the 2024 elections. 

 

The resolution referred to the party's ‘Paanch Nyay’ with 25 guarantees, which resonated everywhere during the campaign.

 

The CWC deeply appreciated the contributions made by the PCC Presidents, CLP Leaders, office-bearers of AICC, PCCs and DCCs, block presidents, booth-level agents and each and every party worker. 

 

The CWC thanked the INDIA parties for fighting so well in different states. “INDIA parties in UP, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra especially performed exceedingly well”, it said, while observing, “the 18th Lok Sabha will be influenced hugely by the INDIA parties”.

 

On poor performance in some states, the CWC said, it would be failing in its duty if it did not take note of the disappointing performance of the Indian National Congress in some states in the midst of its overall revival and rejuvenation. 

 

“Urgent steps should and will be taken to address the shortcomings in the states where the party had every reason to hope for a better result but where that expectation was not fulfilled”, it said.