Hyderabad: The newly-constituted Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting commenced on Saturday in Telangana’s vibrant city of Hyderabad, following a dignified flag hoisting ceremony. The Congress party, known for its commitment to fostering open and candid dialogues, highlighted its internal democratic practices, setting it apart from other political entities. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the meeting and expressed his concern over the Modi government’s failure in controlling inflation, unemployment, the situation in Manipur, and the growing inequality in the country.
He further alleged that the BJP government was resorting to vindictive actions against opposition parties due to its unease with the success of the INDIA bloc meetings, as reported by PTI.
Kharge stated, “The Congress strongly condemns the government’s attempts to stifle opposition in Parliament and curtail public scrutiny in the House.”
Besides Kharge, the meeting saw the presence of former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Additionally, prominent leaders such as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, and general secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh participated. The CWC meeting began around 3 pm, shortly after the party flag was hoisted at the Taj Krishna hotel venue.
Ahead of the CWC meeting, Kharge shared that the members would discuss the party’s future endeavors. He said, “This is the first CWC meeting since I assumed the role of party president. Tomorrow, we will convene an extended working committee meeting, where we will delve into discussions pertaining to the party’s future endeavors. The distinguished leaders of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other senior members, will engage in discussions concerning the forthcoming elections in five states and formulate our strategies accordingly.”
“We also anticipate discussions on the alliance will be held in our subsequent meeting with our alliance partners,” he added.
Pawan Khera, the head of the Congress media and publicity department, lauded the party’s democratic traditions during a press conference held prior to the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Congress Working Committee.
Khera emphasized, “No other political party in the country has conducted an open election of this nature. We take immense pride in our tradition of selecting our president through an open election. It’s another historic milestone we achieved last year. As we convene today for the CWC meeting, there will be an open discourse. Every member is free to express their opinions, suggestions, or criticisms. This is the way our party functions, keeping the vitality and dynamism of our party alive.”
He highlighted the significance of this CWC meeting, taking place on the brink of assembly elections in five states and the looming Lok Sabha polls. Khera reflected on the party’s proactive approach to addressing issues often overlooked in the mainstream narrative.
Khera remarked, “Over the past year, the Congress has been at the forefront, addressing the concerns of those who are often left out of the mainstream discourse. Many of you had raised concerns about the Congress not being active on the ground. I hope those concerns have been addressed. Rahul Gandhi’s over 4,000-km-long Bharat Jodo Yatra has proven to be a turning point in the way we engage in politics.”
