After Colossal Defeat, Entire Congress Working Committee May Resign: Sources

New Delhi: The top leaders of the Congress party are meeting now to post-mortem the party's electoral humiliation. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress bosses, have ratcheted up the party's worst performance ever, but their colleagues have made it clear that the First Family will be shielded from direct blame. (Remove Rahul, Bring Priyanka, Say Congress Posters in Allahabad)

There are reports that the Gandhis will offer to step down when the Congress Working Committee meets this evening - but their resignation would almost certainly be rejected by colleagues. Party sources say that all 34 members of the of the party's highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee, could quit in a gesture of "collective responsibility." (Top 10 High-Profile Contests and Victory Margins)

Kamal Nath, the most senior Congress parliamentarian, told NDTV on Sunday that only internal democracy could end "the culture of patronage" and elections must be held to select the Working Committee. (Watch)

The Congress has won just 44 seats in the 543-member Parliament, as the Opposition BJP and its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, swept to power with the first majority in 30 years. (Congress Vote Share Dips Below 20 Per Cent for First Time)

While accepting responsibility on Friday for what he described as the Congress doing "pretty badly", Mr Gandhi's smile baffled many.

The role of his key advisers including Jairam Ramesh may be faulted at this evening's Working Committee meeting.

The Congress defeat has been attributed to a sharp economic slowdown, rising food prices and a slew of corruption scandals, as well as Mr Gandhi, 43, being comprehensively overshadowed by BJP leader Narendra Modi. (Gandhis Must Surrender Congress Leadership: Foreign Media)

The BJP leader assailed the dynastic rule of the Gandhis and tapped into widespread hunger for jobs and development, while offering a message of aspiration and ambition to the young electorate. (Opinion: Rahul Rejected Most by India's Youth)