Sonia firm on CWC decision, says Rahul's role is final and Congress ready for LS battle

A day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) decided that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will lead the party's campaign for Lok Sabha elections and won't be named the prime ministerial candidate, chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday reiterated the CWC decision is final.

Amid demands by Youth Congress workers to name Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate at the All India Congress Committee's meeting, Sonia Gandhi said that the party stands on its beliefs and philosophies.

"We reflect what we stand for. 2014 battle will be a battle for India, a battle for preserving secular tradition."

The Congress president added that the Congress party is ready and prepared for the 2014 Lok Sabha battle. 

"This election will be a battle for India as was conceived by our forefathers," she said.

Highlights of what Sonia Gandhi said at AICC meet:

 • CWC decision on Rahul Gandhi is final.

 •  The Congress is ready and prepared for the battle ahead.

 •  2014 polls will be a battle for India as it was conceived and cherished by our founding fathers.

 •  The party has faced much more difficult times, but have always remained committed.

 •  If the growing aspirations of people are not met, then the fabric of our society will not change.

 •  We are the party that is responsible for the historic RTI act.

 •  Our policies have worked especially well in meeting the aspirations of people in rural India.

 • Communal forces a great danger to our nation. Secularism is the biggest strength our nation.

 • PM Manmohan Singh has been steady in achieving targets.

 • Despite all the false allegations against our party, we've been strong.

 • We've kept political considerations aside to do what is best for the people.

 • Our schemes and policies are making a positive change in the lives of many women and children.

• Divisive forces are stretching social fabric to a breaking point. But we believe in uniting the nation.

• Congress party has lifted crores of Indians out of poverty. We've taken the country forward in the field of science and technology.

• Our long and rich history has taught us to face all situations with courage and not lose hope. We will face all challenges united.

Sonia Gandhi told the CWC there was no tradition of the party anointing a PM candidate before elections, party leader Janardan Dwivedi had said on Thursday evening.

The move to make Rahul Gandhi the poll campaign chief made it amply clear that in case the party won the 2014 electoral battle, he would be its first choice as the next PM.

"Just because one other party (BJP) has declared its PM candidate doesn't mean that we will also project a nominee for the top post," Dwivedi said.

After a decade in power, Congress is lagging well behind the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in opinion polls, with voters turned off by an economic slowdown and a string of corruption scandals.

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh retiring after two terms, the party had been expected to nominate the 43-year-old Rahul as its choice for premier at the conclave. Read more..

Source: Hindi News

From HT News