CWC resolution urges Congress to act as constructive opposition, turns down Rahul Gandhi’s offer to resign 

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) which is the highest decision-making body of the Congress party, met in New Delhi on Saturday for the first time after Lok Sabha polls. It unanimously rejected party president Rahul Gandhi’s offer to resign from the post of the party president.

The CWC meeting which lasted for nearly two hours passed a resolution and authorised Rahul Gandhi to bring about structural changes in the organisation of the grand old party.

“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,” said Congress leader Randeep Surjewala while reading out the resolution.

When asked about Rahul’s response to the CWC’s request and a tentative time frame for the structural changes, Surjewala replied, “A plan to this effect shall come into force at the earliest.”

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told media that Rahul Gandhi’s offer to tender his resignation was rejected unanimously by the CWC.

“I have been in politics for four decades. I have been instrumental in making many leaders to write their resignation but I have never seen such unanimity across age groups in any CWC. Nobody has doubted Rahul Gandhi’s leadership,” said Azad.

“In a democracy winning or losing keeps happening but providing leadership is a different matter. He gave a leadership, one which is visible - maybe less on TV but very evident among public. We have accepted our defeat but it was a defeat of numbers and not ideology,” he added.

Former defence minister AK Antony said that the party will discuss in detail the reasons that led to the dismal performance of the party.

In a reply to the question whether he would call it a disastrous performance or not, Antony said, “I do not agree that it was a disastrous performance, but we were not able to rise up to the expectations. The party will discuss this in detail. Today we had only general discussions.”

The CWC resolution further added that the Congress party “accepts the people’s mandate with humility and will perform its duty as the opposition, raising people’s issues and holding the next government accountable to the people of India.”

“The CWC unanimously called upon Rahul Gandhi to lead the party in its ideological battle and to champion the cause of India’s youth, the farmers, the SC/ST/OBCs, the minorities, the poor and the deprived sections,” it said.