No need to speak to me through media; schedule for organisational polls ready, says Sonia Gandhi at CWC

In response to those who criticized the Congress party for not having a full-time working president, Sonia Gandhi in the CWC meeting held Saturday said that she has been working as the Congress president since 2019.

“I am acutely conscious of the fact that I have been interim Congress president ever since the CWC asked me to return in this capacity in 2019…. I am, if you will allow me to say so, a full-time and hands-on Congress president,” asserted Sonia Gandhi.

Without naming her party colleagues, who have discussed some of the party's internal issues in media, Sonia Gandhi advised, “I have always appreciated frankness. There is no need to speak to me through the media. So let us all have a free and honest discussion.”

“But what should get communicated outside the four walls of this room is the collective decision of the CWC,” added Sonia Gandhi.

Accepting that the grand old party is facing many challenges, Sonia Gandhi emphasised on working together to keep the party united.

“If we are united, if we are disciplined, and if we focus on the Party’s interests alone, I am confident that we will do well,” said the Congress president.

Ending the speculation about the organisation pools whether they will be held or not, Sonia Gandhi appealed to party leaders and workers to maintain discipline and self-control.

“A Schedule for full-fledged organisational elections is before you. General Secretary, Organisation, Venugopal ji will brief you on the entire process later,” said Sonia Gandhi.

Citing the Coronavirus pandemic as the reason why the deadline for the organisational polls was extended indefinitely, Sonia Gandhi pointed out that the Congress party has worked as a responsible Opposition.

“In the last two years, a large number of our colleagues, particularly the younger ones have taken on leadership roles in taking party policies and programmes to people--whether it be the agitation of farmers, provision of relief during the pandemic, highlighting issues of concern to youth and women, atrocities on Dalits, Adivasis and minorities, price rise, and the destruction of the public sector,” added Sonia Gandhi.