In a major revelation, Congress on Friday has revealed reason for former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's absence from key party meeting chaired by interim president Sonia Gandhi at AICC headquarters on Thursday. Congress has reportedly said that Rahul Gandhi was t invited to meeting as he does t 'fall in criteria of leaders called for meeting'. meeting called by party chief included  Congress general secretaries, state chiefs, state Legislature Party leaders and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Rahul Gandhi has been avoiding key party meetings since his resignation from top post. 

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Why did Rahul Gandhi skip AICC meet?

party reportedly claims that Singh was called to discuss ecomic issues. It added that Rahul Gandhi's presence was allegedly t mandatory. Since Congress accepted his resignation, Rahul Gandhi technically holds organizational post except for Congress Working Committee (CWC) member. His absence was felt at first meeting chaired by his mor since taking up post of interim-party president.

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Top Congress meet in New Delhi

Top leaders in attendance include former PM Manmohan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia. All Congress general secretaries are scheduled to meet on Friday as well to address various issues.  Apart from strategy for upcoming polls, meeting has also been called to discuss preparations for Gandhi Jayanti. Previously, party had anunced that party workers will carry out padayatra across country, wearing Gandhi topis and holding seminars to celebrate Mahatma's birth anniversary.

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Preraks move rejected

During meeting, party chief Sonia Gandhi had turned down a proposal to have 'Preraks' (motivators) for conducting party's outreach activities across country. re was consensus at a meeting of Congress' top brass chaired by Gandhi to continue with old system of having trainers. se trainers would furr be tasked with responsibility of propagating party's ideology and articulating its views on a range of issues. Sources said a proposal to have 'Preraks' was made at meet by Sachin Rao, who is AICC in-charge of training. proposal invited instant objections from many Congress leaders starting with Mukul Wasnik, who said it sounded too similar to word 'Pracharak'. RSS, BJP's ideological mentor, has a system of 'Pracharaks'. 

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