New Delhi: After a five-hour-long meeting, the Congress party has decided to begin introspection to find out ways to strengthen the party by holding a 'Chintan Shivir' in the upcoming days.
In the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also agreed to work 'as party desires' when demand was raised that he should once again take up the post. However, he said that the final decision should be left to the electoral process of the party.
As per the sources, Rahul Gandhi's comments were greeted with applause from all the leaders present in the meeting which was also attended by the 'rebels' who had written a letter demanding overhaul in the organisation.
"No objections were raised against Rahul Gandhi. Everybody lauded his hard work and dedication. Nobody objected over the name of Rahul Gandhi. Dissenters have no problem. Sonia Gandhi also said that we are like a family and we should work together to strengthen the party. There will be a due electoral process that is in motion," said Congress leader and AICC treasurer Pawan Bansal, while addressing the media.
He also said, "It was a very constructive meeting and everyone present in the meeting expressed their suggestions and were correctly noted. It was a very productive meeting to energise the party and to fight the forces which are inverting the narrative and upturning the idea of India."
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Reportedly, Congress General Secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reiterated the need for strengthening the party at grass-root level.
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan, one of the letter writers, told the reporters that a 'Chintan Shivir' on the pattern of Panchmarhi and Shimla would be held soon.
"It was the first meeting. More meetings will take place. Chintan Shivir on the pattern of Panchmarhi and Shimla will be held to strengthen the party. The meeting was held in a very fruitful environment," he said.
Meanwhile, sources said senior leaders of the party made an indirect attack on Rajiv Satav and Randeep Singh Surjewala during a discussion on Gujarat and Bihar elections.
However, Rahul Gandhi clarified that he is not against the senior party leaders and has respect for them. He added that he respects them for not just their experience but because they had worked with his father, Rajiv Gandhi.
This was the first meeting when Sonia Gandhi met the party leaders face-to-face, months after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 'rebel' leaders, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, Prithviraj Chavan and Manish Tewari attended the meeting.
While the Central Election Authority (CEA) is undermining the election process, Congress is facing a leadership crisis from the past one year. In August, 23 Congress leaders sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi, calling for an "active and visible leadership" and elections in the highest decision-making body, Congress Working Committee.
Even during today's meeting, these leaders reiterated their demands. However, they raised no objection when other leaders asked Rahul Gandhi to take up the Presidential post.
On Friday, Congress General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had stated that 99.9% of Congress leaders and workers believe that Rahul Gandhi is the right person to lead the party as he is perhaps among the "rare brand" of leaders who have fearlessly questioned the entire people policy of Modi Government.
