Interimchief Sonia Gandhi's meeting with senior Congress leaders on Saturday morningended after almost five hours and sources said nobody in the meeting objectedto Rahul Gandhi's name from being proposed for the party chief's positionagain, although there will be "Chintan shivir" or brain stormingcamps soon.
"Noone has a problem with Rahul Gandhi, and this is not just for today. Everybodysaid that we need Rahul Gandhi's leadership. We must not fall into the trap ofother people who are trying to distract the party's agenda," senior partyleader Pawan Bansal said emerging out of the most awaited meeting ever sincethe group of 23 had shot a letter to Sonia Gandhi in August this year.
Themeeting which lasted for hours after starting off a little after 10.30 a.m. andwent off on a cordial note despite the participation from the disgruntledgroup, saw Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka speak at the meeting. Severalother senior leaders also brought in suggestion with fresh measures forstrengthening the party.
PrithivirajChavan, one of the signatories of the G23 letter, said after the meeting:"Nineteen leaders of Congress met and discussed means to strengthen theparty. A clear future course is on the anvil.
"Itis the first of such meetings. More meetings will take place. 'Chintan shivirs'in line with Shimla and Pachmarhi will be organised." Hesaid suggestions of the party leaders will be recorded.
Themeeting at the residence of the Congress interim chief included several of the"dissident" leaders who had written to her urging for "an activepresident" in the party.
Bansaltermed the meeting "very constructive" with everyone pitching in withsuggestions "that were all taken note of". He said the meeting"energised the party to fight the forces" that are "fighting theidea of India and Congress". He said the Congress is determined to fightall such forces.
Thesources said it was a "freewheeling discussion and whatever anyone had tosay they said". Theleaders said there will be a due process for internal elections that is alreadyin motion.
SeniorCongress leaders like Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former MadhyaPradesh chief Minister Kamal Nath, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram,Vivek Tankha, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, PrithvirajChavan, Ambika Soni, Manish Tewari, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Pawan Bansal, HarishRawat, Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, A.K. Antony and several others met theGandhis for the first time since dissidence within the party became public.
FormerPrime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ajay Maken were also present at 10 Janpathhere.
OnFriday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Sonia Gandhihad been unable to physically meet the party leaders on account of Covid-19protocol for a considerable amount of time.
"Nowshe has decided that from tomorrow she is going to meet and decide variousorganisational issues. So this is not a meet of any specific group of leaders.This is not a meet of dissenters or rebels because we consider each leader andworker as part of our family," Surjewala had said.
Hesaid that the party has addressed the issues raised by some of the seniormembers of the party and it has already been decided to hold the election tothe post of president.
"Thatprocess is underway, all the issues should be resolved with the announcement ofthe next election. There are no internal issues of dissent that are pending inthe party of any nature," he said.
Surjewalasaid the BJP sometimes continues to propagate such insinuations which Congressleaders do not believe in, including those who have written the letter.
"Weare one family and we will work together and we will work to strengthen theparty," he added.