Sonia Gandhi Named Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Says ‘Modi Lost Right To Leadership’

Sonia Gandhi has been re-elected as Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson. She praised the party's resilience and took a sharp stance against Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

Sonia Gandhi has been unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) during a meeting held in the Central Hall of Parliament today. The proposal was put forth by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and seconded by senior party leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Tariq Anwar, and K Sudhakaran. Addressing the CPP, Sonia Gandhi labelled the recent Lok Sabha election results as a "political and moral defeat" for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, asserting that he has lost the moral right to leadership.

Speaking to newly elected MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament, Gandhi condemned the Prime Minister for planning to be sworn in again on Sunday without acknowledging the perceived failure, news agency PTI reported.

Sonia Gandhi was unanimously re-elected as the CPP chairperson through a voice vote during the meeting. In her address, she highlighted Modi's approach during the election, stating, "The prime minister had sought the mandate solely in his name to the exclusion of both his party and its allies, but has suffered a political and moral defeat. In reality, he has lost the mandate he sought and thereby has lost the right to leadership as well."

She further criticised Modi's governance style, stating, "Far from taking responsibility for failure, he intends to get himself sworn in again tomorrow. We do not expect him to change the substance and style of his governance, nor take cognisance of the will of the people." Gandhi urged the Congress MPs to remain vigilant, saying, "As members of the CPP, we have a special obligation to be watchful, vigilant and proactive in holding him and his new NDA government accountable."

Emphasising the need for parliamentary integrity, Gandhi said, "No longer can and should Parliament be bulldozed like it has been for a decade now. No longer will the writ of the ruling establishment be permitted to disrupt Parliament, whimsically mistreat members or push through legislation without due and proper consideration and debate", as quoted by PTI.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, she warned of attempts to "increase polarisation and erosion of secular and democratic values enshrined in our Constitution" by the ruling establishment, urging the Congress MPs to thwart such efforts. Reflecting on her re-election as CPP chairperson, Gandhi expressed gratitude, stating, "This is a very emotional moment for me. I have received immense love and affection from the party leaders, and I assure them I will do my best and more to fulfil the trust and confidence you have continued to place in me."

Gandhi also pointed to the Congress party's resilience, noting that the election results signified a rejection of "the politics of divisiveness and authoritarianism" and a vote for "economic and social justice." She highlighted the bolstered presence of Congress in Parliament, aided by the strength of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc allies, and lauded the historic Bharat Jodo yatras led by Rahul Gandhi for shaping the party's narrative on constitutional guarantees, PTI reported.

'Many Wrote Our Obituaries, But...': Sonia Gandhi Praises Congress President Kharge

In her speech, the veteran politician praised the determination of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the collective effort of the party members, saying, "Many wrote our obituaries. But under the determined leadership of Khargeji, we persevered. He is an inspiration to all of us."

Kharge, in turn, expressed his admiration for Gandhi, stating, "It is a big thing that she has been elected as Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson. She will continue to guide us. She continues to serve the party and I salute her for this."

Sonia Gandhi To Decide Lok Sabha LoP: Manickam Tagore After CWC Resolution Recommending Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Manickam Tagore said that the decision regarding the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition is now to be taken by CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He told ANI, "In the CPP meeting today, Kharge ji proposed to make Sonia Gandhi the chairperson of the CPP and we have unanimously elected her as the chairperson of the CPP. Now the CPP chairperson has to decide about the leader of the Lok Sabha..."

Prominent Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary KC Venugopal, Karti Chidambaram, Rajiv Shukla, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, and Shashi Tharoor were present at the meeting. The Congress Working Committee has also passed a resolution recommending Rahul Gandhi be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. 

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi won seats from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala. The Congress, contesting as part of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, significantly improved its performance, securing 99 seats, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats. The I.N.D.I.A. bloc collectively crossed the 230 mark, presenting a formidable challenge and defying many predictions.