Sonia Gandhi to continue as Congress interim-chief till fresh AICC elections are held

Putting ar temporary end to rising tumult in Congress on Monday, interim chief Sonia Gandhi is set to remain at her post till fresh elections are held by AICC in next six months. She took over from Rahul Gandhi as party chief in August 2019, after her son resigned as chief post-Lok Sabha 2019 debacle. She h asked CWC members "to begin deliberations towards process of transition to relieve her from duty of party chief", as 23 senior leers sought 'structural changes' at party.

Sonia Gandhi to remain as interim chief

Leers seeking 'Congress revamp' affirm faith in Rahul & Sonia Gandhi's leership: ANI

Rahul Vs Sonia battle in CWC

Currently, at CWC meeting, sources report that party has split into two camps - one supporting Sonia Gandhi as chief, or backing Rahul Gandhi as chief. Sources report that Sonia aides like - Kamal Nath, Manmohan Singh, AK Antony, KC Venugopal have backed Sonia to continue chief, but or leers like - Ahmed Patel, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Salman Khurshid and most state-level chiefs have called for Rahul Gandhi to take over as Congress chief - with Ahmed Patel officially proposing it in meeting. Both Gandhis have allegedly refused - Sonia Gandhi has insisted on stepping down while Rahul Gandhi has reportedly remained mum on issue. 

An all-out war between some of signatories - Ghulam Nabi Az and Kapil Sibal and Wayan MP occurred at CWC meeting. Rahul Gandhi allegedly said that dissenters were 'in cahoots with BJP', which prompted Sibal to lash out and Az to reportedly offer to resign. While both Sibal and Az have maintained that Rahul Gandhi did t say such a thing in meeting or orwise, Az has maintained that he is willing to resign if allegation is proved by any of Congress leers. former Congress chief allegedly feels that party members should have discussed issues in CWC and t to media, allegedly betraying party. dissenters have allegedly expressed full faith in Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's leership in meeting, according to ANI. 

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23 leers seek change in Congress

23 leers wrote to party's interim-Chief Sonia Gandhi emphasising need for active revival of party and raised questions about party's condition and direction, demanding an internal election to CWC even at state levels, formation of an Independent Election Authority, and institutional leership mechanism, full-time leership at helm. five-p letter - drafted by two senior leers, seeks to elect a 'n-Gandhi' chief as pointed out by dissenting leers in CWC meeting. 23 signatories include Ghulam Nabi Az, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajender Kaur Bhattal, M. Veerappa Moily, Prithviraj Chavan, P.J. Kurian, Ajay Singh, Renuka Chaudhary, and Milind Deora -  belonging from Congress' 'old guard ' and 'young guard' (i.e Rahul Gandhi supporters). Apart from se signatories, over 300 Congress workers support it.

Ambika Soni seeks 'strict action' against 23 dissenters seeking revamp of Congress: Source

Amid row, Rahul Gandhi feels 'dissenters betrayed Congress' by taking grouse to media