June 8th 2024.
New Delhi: On Saturday, the Congress parliamentary party unanimously re-elected former president Sonia Gandhi as their chairperson, according to party leaders. During a meeting with party MPs, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge put forth Gandhi's name for the position of parliamentary party chairperson. His proposal was then seconded by Gaurav Gogoi, K Sudhakaran, and Tariq Anwar.
Gandhi, who is 77 years old, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in February. Prior to this, the Congress Working Committee had unanimously urged Rahul Gandhi to take on the role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He informed the party's top leaders that he will make a decision on this "very soon."
Speaking at the Central Hall of Parliament to the newly elected MPs, Sonia Gandhi described the results of the Lok Sabha elections as a "political and moral defeat" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She stated that he has lost the moral right to leadership. She also criticized Modi for seeking the mandate solely in his own name, excluding both his party and its allies.
However, despite this defeat, Gandhi noted that Modi intends to get sworn in again on Sunday. She expressed doubt that he will change his style of governance or take into account the will of the people. As members of the CPP (Congress Parliamentary Party), Gandhi emphasized the importance of being vigilant and proactive in holding the new NDA government accountable.
She also called for a change in the way Parliament is run. She stated that the ruling establishment can no longer bulldoze Parliament or mistreat members without consequence. Parliamentary committees must also be given due consideration, and Parliament itself must not be stifled, as it has been in the past 10 years.
Gandhi acknowledged that the times ahead will be challenging and urged Congress MPs to prevent any attempts to increase polarization or erode secular and democratic values. She also highlighted the strength of the INDIA (Indian National Congress) alliance, which has significantly increased their numbers in Parliament.
She praised Rahul Gandhi for his determination and tenacity in the face of personal and political attacks. She also credited him for shaping their narrative on the protection of the Constitution.
However, Gandhi also urged the MPs to reflect on what can be done to improve the party's position in states where their performance has been below expectations. She concluded by thanking Rahul Gandhi for his leadership and the historic Bharat Jodo yatras.
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