August 24, 2020: A crucial Congress Working Committee meeting to discuss the leadership issue started virtually.
- Interim party president Sonia Gandhi attends the Congress Working Committee's virtual meeting.
- Sonia Gandhi says she has given a note (a reply to the letter written by some senior Congress leaders to her over party leadership) to KC Venugopal, and he will read it out.
- Rahul Gandhi says, why was the letter (over party leadership) sent at a time when Sonia Gandhi was admitted in the hospital.
- Rahul Gandhi pointed at the timing of the letter by party colleagues and criticised it.
- Manmohan Singh and AK Antony said that Sonia Gandhi should continue till a new party president is elected.
-- Rahul Gandhi, during CWC meeting, says the letter (to Sonia Gandhi about party leadership) was written at a time when Congress government in Rajasthan was facing a crisis, the right place to discuss what was written in the letter was CWC meeting and not the media: Sources
- Rahul Gandhi says this (writing a letter to Sonia Gandhi for reforms in party leadership) was done in collusion with BJP: Sources
73-years-old Sonia Gandhi was reportedly upset amid a massive controversy over a letter by more than 20 senior leaders calling for 'full time' active leadership, sweeping reforms and raising questions about the party's condition and direction, as well as demanding the election of the CWC. Sonia Gandhi was appointed as an interim president a year ago (on August 10, 2019) by the CWC, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had stepped down as party President, taking the responsibility of poll debacle in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
This is the second time Gandhis are witnessing resentment within the party after 1999 when Sharad Pawar, Tariq Anwar, PA Sangma had raised questions on her origin. This time it is 'not personal' contrary to the 1999 situation. Gandhi family loyalists and Congress Chief Ministers took on the section of leaders who signed the letter and rallied behind the Gandhi family, calling for Sonia to stay or Rahul Gandhi to take charge again. There exist 'battle of opinions' among the party leaders.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
August 24, 2020: A crucial Congress Working Committee meeting to discuss the leadership issue started virtually.
August 24, 2020: A crucial Congress Working Committee meeting to discuss the leadership issue started virtually.
- Interim party president Sonia Gandhi attends the Congress Working Committee's virtual meeting.
- Sonia Gandhi says she has given a note (a reply to the letter written by some senior Congress leaders to her over party leadership) to KC Venugopal, and he will read it out.
- Rahul Gandhi says, why was the letter (over party leadership) sent at a time when Sonia Gandhi was admitted in the hospital.
- Rahul Gandhi pointed at the timing of the letter by party colleagues and criticised it.
- Manmohan Singh and AK Antony said that Sonia Gandhi should continue till a new party president is elected.
-- Rahul Gandhi, during CWC meeting, says the letter (to Sonia Gandhi about party leadership) was written at a time when Congress government in Rajasthan was facing a crisis, the right place to discuss what was written in the letter was CWC meeting and not the media: Sources
- Rahul Gandhi says this (writing a letter to Sonia Gandhi for reforms in party leadership) was done in collusion with BJP: Sources
73-years-old Sonia Gandhi was reportedly upset amid a massive controversy over a letter by more than 20 senior leaders calling for 'full time' active leadership, sweeping reforms and raising questions about the party's condition and direction, as well as demanding the election of the CWC. Sonia Gandhi was appointed as an interim president a year ago (on August 10, 2019) by the CWC, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had stepped down as party President, taking the responsibility of poll debacle in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
This is the second time Gandhis are witnessing resentment within the party after 1999 when Sharad Pawar, Tariq Anwar, PA Sangma had raised questions on her origin. This time it is 'not personal' contrary to the 1999 situation. Gandhi family loyalists and Congress Chief Ministers took on the section of leaders who signed the letter and rallied behind the Gandhi family, calling for Sonia to stay or Rahul Gandhi to take charge again. There exist 'battle of opinions' among the party leaders.