CWC Meeting: Sonia Gandhi To Remain Interim Congress Chief , New President To Be Elected In 6 Months

Congress Working Committee Meeting: The CWC meeting has ended and according to the sources Sonia Gandhi will continue to be the Congress Chief for next 6 months till the new party president is elected.

(AFP)

CWC Meeting: After a 7-hour long discussion for electing a new president for the Congress party, the leaders did not come to any huge conclusion. According to the sources, Sonia Gandhi is likely to continue as the Congress chief for a few more months. The sources further said that Sonia Gandhi will remain the party chief till a new president is elected. The duration to elect a new chief has been decided as 6 months. Also Read|CWC Meet: Congress' Internal Strife Out In Open; Rahul Denies 'Collusion' Remark, Sibal Deletes Tweet Sonia Gandhi today said she "wants to be relieved" of the post of interim Congress president and urged her colleagues to start looking for a replacement as the party's top decision-making body met a day after an explosive letter written by 23 top leaders calling for sweeping reforms and "a full-time, visible leadership" emerged. Sonia Gandhi's announcement unpacked an effusive show of support for the Gandhis' leadership and sharp criticism of the letter writers, mainly by Rahul Gandhi. One of the signatories to the letter, Ghulam Nabi Azad, offered to resign as he faced criticism from several Congress leaders. On a call for disciplinary action, the "dissenters" said they were "ready to face punishment immediately" and remained loyal to the Congress. Different voices have emerged within the party with one section comprising sitting MPs and former ministers demanding a collective leadership, while another group has sought the return of Rahul Gandhi to the helm. The letter written by the 23 party members sought an “active” and “visible” leadership to stem the rot in the party which has been rocked by electoral defeats, desertions, and crack within ranks. Sibal, Azad hit out at Rahul Gandhi over "collusion with BJP" remark; Rahul refutes the statement Former union minister Kapil Sibal had posted a tweet rebutting Rahul Gandhi at the "collusion with BJP" remark but later deleted the tweet after Rahul Gandhi made personal clarification to him. "Was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never said what was attributed to him. I, therefore, withdraw my tweet," Sibal said. Soon after Rahul’s alleged "collusion with BJP" remark, Kapil Sibal took to Twitter and reminded of the times he defended the party. Sibal tweeted: “Rahul Gandhi says ‘we are colluding with BJP’...The last 30 years have never made a statement in favour of BJP on any issue. Yet ‘we are colluding with the BJP’.” He later deleted the tweet, in a reconciliation effort from both sides. Ambika Soni Calls for Action Over Leaked Letter   Congress leader Ambika Soni in the CWC said, "as per party constitution, action can be taken against those who wrote to Sonia Gandhi on party leadership. GN Azad, Anand Sharma said they were within limits in raising concerns, still, if someone feels it is a breach of discipline, action can be taken."