Sonia Gandhi back at helm, appointed interim Congress president by CWC

Sonia Gandhi has been appointed the interim chief of the Congress party pending the election for the permanent chief, party general secretary KC Venugopal said after the meeting of the Congress Working Committee. Addressing a press conference after the marathon meeting of the party's top body, Venugopal said: "Congress Working Committee (CWC) unanimously resolved to request Sonia Gandhi to take over as the Interim President, pending the election of a regular president by the AICC."

The top decision making body of the Congress - the Working Committee - has also accepted Rahul Gandhi's resignation. Several members of the Working Committee had once again urged Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision but he firmly declined to continue as party chief. 

"Congress Working Committee unanimously resolved that Rahul Gandhi should continue as Congress president & requested him to accept this decision, however, he declined to withdraw his resignation," the Congress general secretary said.

After Rahul Gandhi's denial, the Congress Working Committee unanimously passed another resolution requesting Sonia Gandhi to take over the post of party president as Interim President pending the election of a regular President by the AICC.

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In another resolution passed during the Congress Working Committee meeting, the party thanked Rahul Gandhi for providing exceptional leadership and "fearlessly""standing up for the weaker sections of the society.

"Rahul Gandhi led the party with unbounded drive, fierce determination and dedication. He campaigned in the assembly and national elections with indefatigable energy. He stood up fearlessly on issues of day-to-day concern to kisans, khet mazdoors,workers, traders and small businesses, youth, women, minorities, dalits and adivasis and the weaker sections of our society," the CWC resolution said.

Sonia Gandhi, who first became the Congress chief in 1998, had handed over the baton to her son Rahul Gandhi in 2017 after leading the party for nearly two decades. However, Rahul Gandhi didn't have a desirable tenure as Congress chief. He quit the post following the Congress party's abysmal show in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.