'Self-Criticism Needed In Party Forums, But...': Sonia Gandhi's Message To Leaders At CWC Meet

Many veteran leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former President Rahul Gandhi, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took part in the meeting.

New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday addressed the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and said that self-criticism should not be done in a manner that self-confidence and moral is disintegrated and an atmosphere of gloom and doom turns into all-pervasive. "Self-criticism needed in party forums, but shouldn't be done in manner that self-confidence, morale is eroded. Seek full cooperation of leaders to ensure unity, determination, commitment to Congress's accelerated revival," she said in an apparent reference to voices of dissent in the party in recent times.

"Congress has been good to all, time to repay that debt in full. There are no magic wands, only discipline, consistent collective purpose to demonstrate our tenacity, resilience. Chintan Shivir shouldn't be a ritual, it should herald a restructured organisation to meet ideological, electoral challenges," Sonia Gandhi said at the meeting.

Many veteran leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former President Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took part in the meeting.

The agenda of its brainstorming session is to be held in Rajasthan's Udaipur from May 13 to 15.

The Congress had last month announced that party leaders from across the country would discuss internal issues and suggest solutions to strengthen the organisation in the Chintan Shivir.

Around 400 top party leaders are expected to attend the camp. Apart from the leaders included in the Congress Working Committee (CWC), senior leaders including members of parliament, state in-charge, general secretary and state presidents will participate in the Chintan Shivir.

Earlier, senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken and Ashok Gehlot took stock of the preparations for the Chintan Shivir on Wednesday. Days after considering suggestions from election strategist Prashant Kishor, the Congress had announced that an 'Empowered Action Group - 2024' would be set up to strengthen the party for the next Lok Sabha elections and tackle future challenges.

Kishor later turned down Congress' offer to join the party and formulate the party's election strategy. The Congress has begun preparations for assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year, besides other state elections in 2023 and Lok Sabha elections in 2024.