Ahead Of CWC Meet, G23 Leaders Suggest Mukul Wasnik For Congress President’s Post: Report

This suggestion of the G23 to name Wasnik for the party chief’s post was, however, not accepted, said sources, ANI reported.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik (Getty Images)

New Delhi: With the Congress Working Committee (CWC) all set to meet this evening to discuss the humiliating defeat in the recently concluded assembly polls, there are reports stating that G23, the dissident group within the grand old party, had suggested Mukul Wasnik’s name for the party president’s post.

This suggestion of the G23 to name Wasnik for the party chief’s post was, however, not accepted, said sources, ANI reported.

“G23, which consists of Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, had suggested Mukul Wasnik's name for the post of president of the party. But it was not accepted,” said sources, the news agency reported.

The new party president should lead the party in the manner as was done by Sonia Gandhi in early 2000, said the source, who is a part of G23.

“Though Sonia Gandhi is the (interim) president, it is virtually (being) run by KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala. There is no accountability fixed on them,” said the source.

The source further said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi “operates from behind the scene”.

“Rahul Gandhi is not the president. But he operates from behind the scene and takes decisions. He does not communicate openly,” the source said.

“We are party's well-wishers and not enemies,” the source added.

According to reports, the CWC meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The results of the five assembly elections came as a shock to the Congress.

The party also failed to live up to the expectation in Uttar Pradesh.

Despite an aggressive campaign led by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party was reduced to a single-digit count winning just two seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand.

The Congress also had to accept defeat at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab.