As Sonia offers ‘sacrificing Gandhi family’, Gehlot backs Rahul for Congress President

• Can’t contest on outdated ideas in modern times: Rahul stresses on need for new ideas and strategies to counter other parties
• CM Gehlot proposes ‘chintan shivir’ in Rajasthan, may be held in first week of April

New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday took part in the all important meeting of the Congress party as the Congress Working Committee - the party’s highest governing body met on Sunday amid abysmal results in five assembly polls.

Gehlot reiterated the need for Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the party stressing, “The Gandhi family is important for the Congress’ unity and Rahul Gandhi should become the party president.”

Speaking to media, Gehlot said, “Rahul Gandhi should become the party president. For the last three decades, nobody from the Gandhi family became the Prime Minister or a minister. It is significant to understand that the Gandhi family is important for Congress’ unity.”

Gehlot said Congress lost Punjab Assembly polls due to internal conflict “In 2017, Congress was united and we won. After Channi became the chief minister the environment was conducive too but it was our mistake that due to internal conflict we lost Assembly elections in Punjab,” said the Congress leader.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the Rajasthan Chief Minister alleged that the ruling party at the Centre pushed the real issues on backseat bringing religion to the forefront.

“Politics of polarisation is easier. BJP propagated Congress as a Muslim party on social media. Our way is to maintain the integrity and unity of the country

During polls, religion comes to the forefront while issues of inflation and jobs take a backseat for BJP,” Gehlot added. Meanwhile, during the CWC, Gehlot laid forward several important tips related to the party and its future and also proposed to hold a ‘chintan shivir’ in Rajasthan.

Word within the party circle is that the chintan shivir could be held in Jaipur or Udaipur. Notably another CWC member -Raguveer Singh Meena - also backed Gehlot’s proposal to hold the session in Rajasthan which could be held in the first week of April.

Interestingly, highly placed sources have revealed that party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi, during almost five-hour-long meet, said that she was ready for any sacrifice in party’s interest.

“Some people think that the party has weakened due to the Gandhi family. If that is what you think, then we are ready for any sacrifice necessary,” Sonia told the committee. However, Congress leader Salman Anees stressed on bettering the organization.

“No one person can change the fortunes of Congress. There is a need to better the organization,” he said. Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts in Uttar Pradesh received accolades by the committee for her hardwork in the state.

Meanwhile, senior party functionary and Rajasthan incharge Ajay Maken also put forward his observation regarding party’s loss in Punjab to which Punjab incharge Harish Choudhary said, “I take complete responsibility for the loss. We will re-contest with a new strategy.” He further said, “We brought Navjot Singh Sidhu on MLAs’ demand.”

Cutting short Choudhary, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the party faced a loss due to removal of Captain Amarinder Singh to which Sonia Gandhi responded and said, “it was my fault. I took time in taking decision.

I kept covering for Captain for a long time therefore the decision got delayed.” Upon this Rahul gandhi also remarked, “Party’s internal survey revealed that Captain would get two percent votes, hence we had to remove him.” Interestingly, during this, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh suggested to Rahul that he should start meeting people.

Highly placed sources in the party revealed that Rahul has stressed on fighting the elections with new strategies.

“We cannot contest election on the ideas that started out in 1990s while the opposition parties are contesting election on other strategies. We cant contest election on outdated strategy