Sonia Gandhi will remain the Congress's interim president for now, the party decided in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting which concluded after seven hours.
During the meeting, it was also decided that the new Congress chief will be elected within next six months.
Sonia Gandhi reportedly said in her closing remarks that she held "no ill-will" towards anyone in the party, a remark intended at the dissent-letter writers. "I am hurt but they are my colleagues, bygones are bygones, let us work together," she said, ending the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on a note of conciliation.
The crucial meeting started at 11 this morning -- a day after an explosive letter written by 26 top leaders calling for "a full-time, visible leadership" emerged -- with Sonia Gandhi's letter asking to be relieved as Congress president and asking the party to begin deliberations to set in place a process to find her replacement. Mrs Gandhi's announcement led to statements in support of her and sharp criticism of the letter-writers, mainly by Rahul Gandhi who intervened twice to accuse the "dissidents" of collaborating with the BJP.
Over 20 Congress leaders have, in a letter, called for a "full-time", "effective leadership" that will be "visible" and "active" in the field, sources said. It also called for "honest introspection" and suggested a "collective leadership", reforms including decentralisation of power, empowerment of state units and organizational elections at every level, sources said.
Here are the Highlights on Congress Working Committee meeting:
The BJP on Monday took aim at Rahul Gandhi over his purported remarks that the letter by over 20 Congress leaders seeking changes in the organisation will help the ruling party, saying he is "obsessed" with the saffron party and that "one''s destruction is near when one stops using his own mind".
"So obsessed is Rahul Gandhi with the BJP that he is beginning to see Congress'' veteran leaders as those working in ''collusion'' with BJP. Someone rightly said when one's destruction is near, one stops using his own mind," BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.
The Congress has denied that Rahul Gandhi, its former president, had accused any party leader of "colluding" with the BJP during the CWC meeting on Monday.
Checked On Sonia Gandhi Health Before Sending Letter: Ghulam Nabi AzadResponding to Rahul Gandhi's sharp criticism of the "dissent" letter addressed to his mother Sonia Gandhi and its timing at a top Congress meet today, Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of the most senior signatories to the letter, responded to the charge that the letter was sent when the 73-year-old was unwell." itemprop="description
Delhi: Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari and Mukul Wasnik leave from the residence of Ghulam Nabi Azad. https://t.co/UKK3kBl0GN pic.twitter.com/ZNnTPCOQvJ
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2020
Contributions of the Gandhi family to the congress party is indisputable
- Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) August 24, 2020
Congress party is not divided on the leadership matter
Congress party stands firmly behind the gandhis. They are the guiding force & the only leaders in country today who can rattle the entire BJP
A section of media is wrongly attributing that, in CWC I told Shri Rahul Gandhi to prove that the letter written by us is in collusion with BJP-"let me make it very clear that Shri Rahul Gandhi has neither in CWC nor outside said that this letter was written at the behest of BJP"
- Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) August 24, 2020
Ghulam Nabi Azad used to call us BJP's 'B' team. Now, his party's former chief said he colluded with BJP by signing on the letter. Muslim leaders in Congress, who are wasting time, should think for how long they'll remain slave of Congress leadership: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi pic.twitter.com/KirEuKUj4X
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2020
#JustIn | Ghulam Nabi Azad clarifies on offer to resign at #CWCMeet https://t.co/D2Bubk3Dhg pic.twitter.com/mZIoGd2uZN
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
CWC Meeting: At Congress Meeting Today, 2 Possible Outcomes Of Sonia Gandhi's Big MoveWatch | At fiery #CWCMeet, Ghulam Nabi Azad offers to resign; Congress denies Rahul Gandhi's "collusion with BJP" remark. @arvindgunasekar with the latest. pic.twitter.com/121ZpWXoY8
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
#JustIn | "Informed by Rahul Gandhi personally": Kapil Sibal deletes "collusion" tweet. #CWCMeet #Congress pic.twitter.com/UwEoCvtwgl
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
After his tweet objecting to Rahul Gandhi's accusation, Kapil Sibal tweeted again to inform that he was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never said what was attributed to him.
Was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never said what was attributed to him .
- Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 24, 2020
I therefore withdraw my tweet .
Watch | "Rahul Gandhi hasn't said a word of this nature nor alluded to it": Congress on row over "collusion with BJP" remark.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
More here: https://t.co/xoW9EGheJt pic.twitter.com/nkwu6Zkz8D
Sh. Rahul Gandhi hasn't said a word of this nature nor alluded to it.
- Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 24, 2020
Pl don't be mislead by false media discourse or misinformation being spread.
But yes, we all need to work together in fighting the draconian Modi rule rather then fighting & hurting each other & the Congress. https://t.co/x6FvPpe7I1
Not only did they leak the letter to the media, they continue to feed/leak minute to minute conversations of the CWC meeting that's going on right now to the media. Amazing!
- Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) August 24, 2020
Rahul Gandhi says " we are colluding with BJP "
- Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 24, 2020
Succeeded in Rajasthan High Court defending the Congress Party
Defending party in Manipur to bring down BJP Govt.
Last 30 years have never made a statement in favour of BJP on any issue
Yet " we are colluding with the BJP "!
#CWCMeet | Start process to replace me, #SoniaGandhi tells Congress https://t.co/D2Bubk3Dhg pic.twitter.com/EqcYzVSGcP
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
We strongly feel that Shri. @RahulGandhi should take charge as AICC President in the interest of our country.
- Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 23, 2020
His leadership will rejuvenate Congress, energize party workers & reassure the people of our country.
1/2
Watch | "#SoniaGandhi's replacement has to be someone who can keep the party together": Senior Congress leader @DrAshwani_Kumar to NDTV.#CWCMeet #NDTVExclusive pic.twitter.com/a1tLVlWQ8X
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
#JustIn | Meeting of the #CongressWorkingCommittee has begun. NDTV's Sunil Prabhu, @arvindgunasekar report the latest. pic.twitter.com/NMWmVqcBgp
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
Congress leaders including Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Capt. Amarinder Singh begin joining the Congress Working Committee's virtual meeting pic.twitter.com/Ql6joIWTnT
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2020
Resolution passed in a meeting of senior Congress leaders. In that resolution under the leadership of Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge Gen. Secretary AICC who has presided over the Zoom meeting held today the 23rd August 2020. This meeting is hosted by Shri Sampath Kumar, Secretary AICC. pic.twitter.com/gU23Shybwb
- Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) August 23, 2020
.@RahulGandhi Ji is not only the best option but the ONLY option. #MyLeaderRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/PAKOrBRP8T
- Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) August 23, 2020
Jammu And Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee extends support to Rahul Gandhi to be the next party president "if there is any change in #Congress president" (ANI) pic.twitter.com/wWYmeIZdnN
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
Watch | Key #Congress Meet Today; #Sonia Gandhi Determined To Quit As Party Chief pic.twitter.com/LkOpFLy0w5
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2020
These two senior leaders are not signatory of the 'bring in change' letter to Sonia Gandhi nor have tweeted / written letter urging Gandhi family to lead the party.
- Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) August 24, 2020
These two leaders have distanced themselves from both camps, to be seen neutral & for the interim arrangement. https://t.co/RVgS32BkrN
Opinion: Behind The Scenes Of Sonia Gandhi's Big MoveMrs Gandhi and Rahul ji have shown what it means to sacrifice for the greater good of the people and the party.Its now time to build consensus and consolidate.
- Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) August 23, 2020
Our future is stronger when we're united. Most Congress workers would like to see Rahul ji take over and lead the party
