CWC Meet: Sonia Gandhi Reviews Electoral Setback, Asks Congress Leaders To "Put House In Order"

Interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday urged the senior leaders from five states that went to the polls in April-May to brief "very frankly" on performance.

Sonia Gandhi

Interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday noted that the party needs to take note of serious setbacks and look at every aspect that caused such reverses in recently held elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Bengal. 

Making her opening remarks at a CWC (Congress Working Committee) meeting today, Sonia Gandhi said "While all of us are preoccupied with COVID19, this meet has been convened to discuss poll results. These results tell us clearly that we need to put our house in order. We have to take note of our serious setbacks. To say we're deeply disappointed is to make understatement. I intend to set up a small group to look at every aspect that caused such reverses and report back very quickly." 

Sonia urged the senior leaders from five states that went to the polls in April-May to brief "very frankly" on performance. "We need to candidly understand why in Kerala and Assam we failed to dislodge incumbent govts and why in West Bengal we drew a complete blank. These will yield uncomfortable lessons, but if we don't face up to reality, if we do not look facts in face, we won't draw right lessons," she added. 

Further, Sonia Gandhi discussed the grim Covid situation in the country. Addressing the Congress leaders, Sonia gandhi noted that COVID-19 situation has become even more catastrophic in past 4 weeks. "Governance failures have become even starker. Scientific advice has been willfully ignored and country is paying a horrendous price for Modi government's neglect of the pandemic." 

Congress Interim President said that the Modi govt has abdicated its responsibility and left vaccination to States. It would have been financially more equitable for the Centre to provide free vaccine to all. On behalf of Congress, she thanks all countries, organisations and International communities that rushed to  assistance in different ways.

Lastly, Sonia mentioned about the election process to choose a new Congress President, that would be completed by end-June. She said that Election authority chairperson, Madhusudan Mistri,has prepared schedule, which will be read out soon by Venugopal.