The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is meeting today in Delhi. The party which has just suffered another humiliating defeat, lost deposits in dozens of seats across the country and has scored big zeros in 17 states in the recent Lok Sabha elections, met today to mull over what went wrong.
The Congress, which first rejected the media reports of Rahul Gandhi ‘offering to resign’ has now clarified that Congress President Rahul Gandhi had indeed offered to resign but the CWC, that is chaired by himself, has unanimously rejected the resignation and asked him to reconstruct the party.
The resolution passed by the CWC is as follows:
With utmost humility, the Congress Working Committee accepts the mandate of the people of India expressed through the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
The CWC expresses its gratitude to the 12.13 Cr voters who have stood behind the Congress party. The Congress party is committed to dawn the role of a constructive opposition, raising people’s issues and holding the government accountable to people of India.
The CWC commends the tireless efforts of the Congress President, office bearers, leaders, party workers, volunteers and Congress candidates, who toiled day and night to fight this vigorous battle in most challenging circumstances. The CWC also thanks all our allies and their respective leadership, who joined hands with the Congress party to fight this ideological battle.
Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi in his address to the CWC offered his resignation, as the party president. The CWC unanimously and with one voice rejected the same and requested the Congress President for his leadership and guidance in these challenging times. The CWC unanimously called upon the Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi to lead the party in its ideological battle and to champion the cause of India’s youth, the farmers, the SC/ST/OBC’s, the minorities, the poor and the deprived sections.
The CWC fully recognizes the challenges, the failures and the shortcomings, resulting in this mandate. The CWC recommends a thorough introspection and requested the Congress President for a complete overhaul and a detailed restructuring at every level of the party. A plan to this effect shall come into force at the earliest.
Congress party has lost the election but our indomitable courage, our fighting spirit and commitment to our ideology remain stronger than ever. We shall continue its fight against forces that thrive on hatred and division.
The CWC also noted that India faces a number of challenges as a new government takes over. The issue of surging oil prices post-sanctions against Iran as also price rise stares us in the face. The banking sector is in dire straits with uncontrolled and unchecked NPA’s soaring to nearly 12 lakh crores, over last five years, threatening the very stability of banking operations. Serious questions being raised on the financial viability of NBFC’s, wherein hard-earned savings of the people’s lives are invested. The downturn of the economy coupled with lack of private investment and a steep fall in consumption patterns, point towards a grave economic slowdown.
The looming job crisis has seen no solutions, jeopardizing the future of our young. The agrarian crisis continues unabated with large swathes of the country reeling under severe drought particularly Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Institutional integrity, which is the hallmark of our Constitutional Democracy, remains under a cloud. Social strife and tensions affect large portions of our populace.
CWC notes that these are issues to be urgently addressed by the next government. The responsibility and accountability to overcome these challenges are of the next government. The Congress party would continue to play a constructive role to overcome these serious challenges. CWC hopes that the government will address these issues as its top priority.
The CWC’s resolution reminds of an old Tweet shared by Shri Rahul Gandhi. It was written as a sly against PM Modi but has surely come back to haunt the Congress party.
Congress has been sinking politically. The Gandhis clout over the grand old party as a family-owned business is crumbling the party from within. Not just Rahul, the repeated attempts to ‘launch’ Priyanka Gandhi has also failed. As some reports have pointed out, except for Wayanad and Raebareli, Congress has lost in every seat where Priyanka had campaigned.
However, the party continues to dance around its royal family like loyal courtiers of the fabled naked emperor.
