New Delhi: As Congress president&nbsp;Sonia Gandhi appeared&nbsp;before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), party MPs and Congress Working Committee (CWC) members 'courted mass arrest' outside the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday in a show of collective solidarity with her.Gandhi appeared before the ED here for questioning in a money-laundering probe linked to the National Herald-Associated Journals Limited case.The 75-year-old Congress leader arrived at the federal probe agency's headquarters located at Vidyut Lane flanking A P J Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi a little after noon, escorted by her 'Z+' category Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover.'All Congress MPs and CWC members have courted mass arrest outside our party HQs in a show of collective solidarity with Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi, a target of Vishguru's political vendetta,' party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.'We are being taken away to a police station in Old Delhi evidently,' he added.Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress has always been at the forefront of fighting against 'tyranny' and Sonia Gandhi has stood strong against innumerable odds.'The autocratic Modi government will never be able to intimidate her,' he said in a tweet.Congress's Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha said even a 'peaceful satyagraha' is banned in this country.'@INCIndia MPs are being arrested and taken to a police station in a bus,' he said in a tweet and posted a picture of Congress leaders, including himself, sitting in a bus.Ahead of Sonia Gandhi's questioning by the ED, the party alleged that the Delhi Police is preventing the media from entering the AICC headquarters and said this 'high-handedness' reflects the mindset of the Narendra Modi government.'From the early hours of this morning the Delhi Police -- obviously taking orders from the Union Home Minister -- is preventing the media from entering the Congress party headquarters,' Ramesh said in another tweet.'This high-handedness was only to be expected and reflects the mindset of the Modi Sarkar,' he added.Ramesh had said on Wednesday that the Congress will stage demonstrations across the country in 'a most telling manner' against what he described as political vendetta.—PTI

As Congress president Sonia Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), party MPs and Congress Working Committee (CWC) members 'courted mass arrest' outside the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday in a show of collective solidarity with her.

Congress MPs, leaders court mass arrest as ED grills Sonia

New Delhi: The election for Congress president is likely to be postponed for a few weeks, sources said on Thursday, and the final schedule will be decided in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled on August 28.
Sources said that it was likely that instead of the election process to get completed by September 21, the whole process may now be completed in October or November. The decision on the new schedule will be taken by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Sunday.
Sources also said that the new decision to defer has been taken since the party leaders will be busy in ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which will commence on September 7 and the Gandhis, including Sonia Gandhi are abroad.
The Congress has called a meeting of its Working Committee on August 28 to decide the poll schedule for the party president’s post.
“A virtual meeting of the CWC will be held on the 28th August, 2022 at 3:30 PM, to approve the exact schedule of dates for the election of the Congress President. Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi will preside over the CWC meeting,” tweeted K.C. Venugopal, party General Secretary Organisation.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has emerged as the top choice for the Congress president’s post. Sources have said that Sonia Gandhi had requested him to contest during a meeting which she held before heading abroad for medical checkup and treatment.
The Gehlot camp has not confirmed the development, but sources have confirmed that the Congress is looking beyond the Gandhis for the top post. Gehlot himself has said that these things were coming up in the media and he had no knowledge of it.
The Central Election Authority of the Congress was awaiting a nod from the party’s working committee to announce the schedule for electing the next Congress President as the grand old party is still in search of a consensus candidate for the top post after refusal by Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;
—IANS

The election for Congress president is likely to be postponed for a few weeks, sources said on Thursday, and the final schedule will be decided in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled on August 28.

 Cong presidential poll likely to be deferred by few weeks

New Delhi: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in his resignation letter has accused the CWC members of humiliating him after the G-23 leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi.
"The only crime committed by the 23 senior leaders who wrote that letter out of concern for the party is that they pointed out both the reasons for the weaknesses in the party and the remedies thereof. Unfortunately, instead of taking those views on board in a constructive and cooperative manner we were abused, humiliated, insulted and vilified in an specially summoned meeting of the extended CWC meeting," he said.
"In the August of 2020 when I and 22 other senior colleagues, including former Union Ministers and Chief Ministers wrote to you to flag the abysmal drift in the party the "coterie" chose to unleash its sycophants on us and got us attacked, vilified and humiliated in the most crude manner possible," he added.
The veteran leader alleged that on the directions of the coterie that runs the AICC today his mock funeral procession was taken out in Jammu and those who committed this indiscipline were feted in Delhi by the General Secretaries of the AICC and Rahul Gandhi personally.
"Subsequently the same coterie unleashed its 'goondas' to physically attack the residence of a former Ministerial Colleague Sh. Kapil Sibal who incidentally was defending you and your kin in the courts of Law for your alleged attacks of omission and commission," Azad wrote in the letter.
He said that the only crime committed by the 23 senior leaders, who wrote that letter out of concern for the party, is that they pointed out the reasons for the weaknesses in the party and also suggested the remedies.
He said, "Since 2014 and subsequently under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the INC has lost two Lok Sabha elections in a humiliating manner. It has lost 39 out of the 49 Assembly elections held between 2014-2022.
"The party only won four state elections and was able to get into a coalition situation in six instances. Unfortunately, today, the INC is ruling in only two states and is a very marginal coalition partner in two other states."
He alleged that since the 2019 elections, the situation in the party has only worsened. After Rahul Gandhi stepped down in a "huff and not before insulting all the senior party functionaries, who have given their lives to the party, in a meeting of the extended Working Committee, you took over as interim President".
"Worse still the 'remote control model' that demolished the institutional integrity of the UPA government now got applied to the Indian National Congress. While you are just a nominal figurehead all the important decisions were being taken by Shri Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs," he alleged.
—IANS

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in his resignation letter has accused the CWC members of humiliating him after the G-23 leaders wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi.

 Abused, humiliated and vilified in CWC meet after the 2020 letter: Azad

New Delhi: Even as the Congress claimed that no doubts were raised over the election procedure for choosing the party president, sources have said that senior leader Anand Sharma did raise some questions.
During the Congress Working Committee meeting on Sunday, Sharma, one of the G-23 leaders, raised the issue of electoral rolls and the process of election at the lower level, following which Sonia Gandhi asked Madhusudan Mistry to address the issue, sources said.
The party, however, dismissed this and said no doubts were raised. Congress General Secretary, Communication, Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet: "There is some dubious "source-based" plantation going on that questions were raised in the CWC meeting today on the Congress President's election process &amp; schedule. This is to make absolutely clear that NOBODY raised any question or any doubt."&nbsp;
Mistry said that the list of delegates will be available to the candidates who file nomination.
The Congress has announced that the election for its new president will be held on October 17 after a meeting of its Working Committee -- the party's highest decision-making authority -- on Sunday approved the poll schedule.
The date of issuance of notification is September 22, nominations can be filed from between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from September 24 to 30 while scrutiny will be done on October 1. Last date of withdrawal is October 8 and the date of polling is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 17 at all PCC headquarters.
Counting will be held on October 19.
Senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently quit the Congress, had said that the election process is a sham. He had hit out at Rahul Gandhi -- whom many are pitching for to take the party leadership again -- for the party's performance in the last eight years.&nbsp;
—IANS

Even as the Congress claimed that no doubts were raised over the election procedure for choosing the party president, sources have said that senior leader Anand Sharma did raise some questions.

 Anand Sharma raises questions on electoral rolls in CWC, Cong denies

New Delhi: The Cong-ress’s steering committee unanimously decided on Friday not to hold the CWC polls and authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate its members, at a key meeting that was skipped by the members of the Gandhi family.
The party also proposed an amendment to its constitution to include the former Congress prime ministers and former AICC chiefs as permanent members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), a move that would ensure the automatic inclusion of Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the party's highest decision-making body.
The inclusion of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of the party in the CWC has also been proposed. The number of members of the CWC will rise from the current 25 once these amendments are approved. At its 85th plenary session, the Congress is set to amend its constitution to provide 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), women, youngsters and minorities at all levels, including in the CWC, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh told a press conference after the steering committee meeting. A key amendment in the party's constitution proposes to ensure that the members abstain from consuming any psychotropic substances or drugs and propagate against the use of such substances, sources said. Some laders also want an amendment to the constitution relating to prohibiting consumption of alcohol by the members.
Ramesh said the decision to authorise the party chief to nominate the CWC members was taken by a committee led by Kharge in view of the country's prevailing political situation and the proposed amendment to give a 50-per cent representation to women, SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and youngsters in the CWC.
"The Congress steering committee decided unanimously to empower the Congress president to nominate the members of the CWC. We had a two-and-a-half-hour discussion on the issue and the dominant, overwhelming view was to authorise the party chief to nominate the members, keeping in mind the political challenges facing the country and the party and considering the far-reaching amendments that we are going to bring about in our constitution," the former Union minister told reporters. He said 16 articles and 32 rules are set to be amended, the most important of which is to provide a 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, women and youngsters in the working committee.
One of the amendments to be brought in the party constitution says: "Among the 23 members of the Congress Working Committee (other than the president of the Congress and the chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party, the Congress prime ministers/former prime ministers, the leaders of the Congress party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and former presidents of the Congress party), it shall be ensured that 50 per cent reservation is given to SCs/STs/OBCs/minorities/youth and women." Another proposed amendment said 50 per cent of all the delegates and office-bearers in the mandal, block, city, district and pradesh Congress committees shall be reserved for SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities, and half of them shall be SCs and STs. "Additionally, there shall be 50 per cent reservation for persons below 50 years of age as also women, both in the reserved categories as also in the unreserved category in the remaining 50 per cent," the proposed amendment says. "There will be discussions on this during the plenary and we are confident that they will (be passed). Amendments are being made in 16 provisions and in 32 rules," Ramesh said He said the committee freely discussed the CWC polls and all the 45 members present unanimously decided to authorise the Congress president to nominate the working committee members.
Several members expressed their views both in favour and against the polls, he said, adding that the final decision was unanimous.
"We are fully confident that all AICC and PCC delegates will support this unanimous decision," Ramesh said.
Most leaders raised both hands in support of the decision on the CWC polls, he said, stressing that it showed the depth of the unanimity.
Former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi skipped the meeting. They arrived in Raipur in the afternoon and were welcomed by senior party leaders at the airport. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also not present at the steering committee meet and is expected to arrive later.
The sources said the absence of the Gandhis from the steering committee meet was aimed at ensuring "free and fair" discussions.
Earlier, Kharge urged the steering committee members to freely express themselves and take a collective call on the process of picking the CWC members.
In his inaugural address, Kharge said, "As the Congress president, I want to urge you to express yourself freely and take a decision collectively. Whatever decision you take will be my decision and of everyone." The CWC currently has 25 members, including the Congress president and the leader of the Congress parliamentary party. Of the rest, 12 are elected members and 11 nominated ones.
The tradition in the party has been to have a consensus body and the committee gives the right to the Congress chief to have a body of his choice to avoid any division. In his opening remarks, Kharge said the plenary session is being held at a time when democracy and the Constitution are "under threat", parliamentary institutions are facing serious crisis and political activities are under scrutiny.
He said since 1885, there have been 84 sessions of the Congress and this convention is very special as it marks 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi was elected the party president. Several historic decisions have been taken at different plenary sessions of the party and some have been milestones, Kharge pointed out. He also recalled the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra organised by the party. The Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir foot march has infused fresh energy in the party's rank and file and highlighted the issues of price rise, unemployment and other economic challenges, he added. "We have to carry forward that enthusiasm," Kharge said. He noted that this plenary session of the party is being held in Chhattisgarh ahead of the assembly elections in half-a-dozen states and the 2024 parliamentary polls. "There is a big challenge as well as a big opportunity before us," the Congress chief said.
—PTI

The Cong-ress’s steering committee unanimously decided on Friday not to hold the CWC polls and authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate its members, at a key meeting that was skipped by the members of the Gandhi family.

CWC: Permanent Seat For Sonia, Rahul; MPs Included

Lucknow: For the seventh time, he ran away from home and was found in Lucknow.
The minor boy from Azamgarh, keeps running away from home to meet Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. He claims to be a fan of the SP leader and says that the security personnel have prevented him from meeting Akhilesh.
The boy has been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and his family has been informed.
Childline coordinator Vivek Sharma said: "It was not hard to find the boy as he has a history of running away from home for Akhilesh Yadav. He has done this around seven times. The boy first ran away from his home when he was just 10 years old. He has chased Akhilesh to far-off cities like Delhi and Mumbai."
When the boy went missing on March 26, his parents contacted the Childline and told the officials about his history of running away from home.
Soon after the distress call, which was received at 8.30 pm, four Childline workers were deployed in the area around Akhilesh Yadav's residence at Vikramaditya Marg.
Personnel were also deployed at Bandariya Bagh, Dilkusha Marg, and Hazratganj to trace the boy. "We were unable to locate him the first night. However, a street vendor at Vikramaditya Marg did tell us that he might have seen a similar looking boy in the area. The next day, our workers went out looking for him again, and were called by a chaat stall owner, who informed that he spotted the boy on the road again," added Sharma.
Finally, the Childline workers were able to spot the boy on the street outside the SP office in Vikramaditya Marg. He was donning an SP cap and had a stole wrapped around his neck.
On being questioned, the boy revealed that he tried to enter into Yadav's residence but was turned away by his security guards.
The CWC has ordered that the boy should be lodged at the government children's shelter home for boys at Mohan Road until his parents arrive from Azamgarh to take him back home.
The boy is also being counselled.&nbsp;
—IANS

For the seventh time, he ran away from home and was found in Lucknow.

Akhilesh's Minor Fan Fails To Meet Him For 7th Time

Guwahati: As of Sunday, rivers in some regions of Assam were still flowing at or over their danger levels, making the flood situation there even more dire.
A morning report from the Central Water Commission (CWC) stated that the Brahmaputra has above the danger level at Nematighat in the Jorhat district.
Kampur (Nagaon)'s Kopili and Kamrup district's Puthimari are both at risky levels.—Imputs from Agencies

As of Sunday, rivers in some regions of Assam were still flowing at or over their danger levels, making the flood situation there even more dire.

Assam flood situation remains grim with rivers flowing above red mark

New Delhi: Ending months of suspense, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday announced the constitution of Congress Working Committee (CWC) -- the party's highest-decision making body -- which includes senior leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Sachin Pilot, Priyanka Gandhi and several others.  The inclusion of Pilot came just months ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Rajasthan.  While the panel includes 39 general members, it has 32 permanent invitees, including some in-charges of state and 13 special invitees. The list also includes presidents of the Youth Congress, the National Students’ Union of India, the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal as ex-officio members.  Even under the formula of 50 per cent under 50 years, leaders like Pilot, K Patel and Gaurav Gogoi have found the place under this formula.  Supriya Shrinate, Alka Lamba, Deepender Hooda, Priniti Shinde, Yashomati Thakur, Jothimani and others have been included too under the same formula.  In a statement, the party said, “Congress President has constituted the CWC.”  Besides Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, veteran party leaders A.K. Antony, Ambika Soni, Meira Kumar, Digvijay Singh, P. Chidambaram, Tariq Anwar, Mukul Wasnik, Anand Sharma, Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ajay Maken have been named.  The new CWC also includes the names of Pilot, Tharoor, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Priyanka Gandhi.  The 39-member CWC list also includes the names of party leaders Lal Thanhawla, Ashokrao Chavan, Gaikhangam, N Raghuveera Reddy, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Kurshid, Jairam Ramesh, Jitendra Singh, Deepak Babaria, Jagdish Thakor, GA Mir, Avinash Pande, Deepa Das Munshi, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, Kamaleshwar Patel and KC Venugopal.  Besides, the party has named Veerappa Moily, Harish Rawat, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mohan Prakash, Ramesh Chennithala, B.K. Hariprasad, Prathiba Singh, Manish Tewari, Tariq Hameed Karra, Deepender Singh Hooda, Girish Raya Chodankar, T. Subbarami Reddy, K. Raju, Chandrakant Handore, Meenakshi Natarajan, Phulo Devi Netam, Damodar Raja Narasimha and Sudeep Roy Burman as permanent invitees.  The party has included Pallam Raju, Khera, Ganesh Godkhal, Kodikkunil Suresh, Yashomati Thakur, Shrinate, Shinde, Lamba and Vamshi Chand Reddy as special invitees.  State incharges A Chellakumar, Bhakta Charan Das, Ajoy Kumar, Harish Choudhary, Rajeev Shukla, Manickam Tagore, Sukhvinder Randhawa, Manickrao Thakre, Rajani Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar, Gurdeep Sappal, Sachin Rao, Devender Yadav and Manish Chatrath have also found place.  The new CWC was announced almost 10 months after Kharge became the Congress president in October last year.  Notably, Tharoor, who has been inducted in the CWC, had contested the party's presidential elections against Kharge.  Pilot has been included in the 39-member panel, which is being seen as a move to placate the popular leader ahead of Rajasthan polls.  Pilot had led the mutiny against the Ashok Gehlot government in 2020, after which he was removed as Deputy Chief Minister and Rajasthan Congress chief.  While, other new entrants to the panel are include Deepa Das Munshi and Syed Naseer Hussain.  Das Munshi is a former MP from West Bengal and the wife of veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, the late Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. —IANS

Ending months of suspense, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday

Kharge constitutes new CWC: Tharoor, Pilot, Priyanka included 

New Delhi: On Sunday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reconstituted the CWC, keeping the old guard, making room for the young, and including prominent leaders from the G23 group like Shashi Tharoor and Anand Sharma, who have been critical of the party leadership in the past.
Ten months after Kharge defeated Tharoor and assumed control, the Congress Working Committee was established, with 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees, and 13 special invitees. There are 15 women and several new faces under the age of 50 among the regular members, such as Sachin Pilot and Gourav Gogoi.
Special invitees Supriya Shrinate, Pawan Khera, Praniti Shinde, and Alka Lamba join regular invitees Kanhaiya Kumar and Deepender Hooda.—Inputs from Agencies

On Sunday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reconstituted the CWC, keeping the old guard, making room for the young, and including prominent leaders from the G23 group like Shashi Tharoor and Anand Sharma, who have been critical of the party leadership in the past.

Cong president Kharge forms new CWC; G23 leaders, Sachin Pilot among those included

New Delhi: Days after reconstituting the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision making body, party President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday constituted a 16-member Central Election Committee (CEC) with CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as its members.
In an official communique, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has constituted the Central Election Committee."
Besides Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the other members of the CEC include veteran party leader Ambika Soni, Madhusudan Mistry, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Salman Khurshid, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM T.S. Singh Deo, K.J. Geogre, Pritam Singh, Mohammad Jawed, Amee Yajnik, P.L. Punia, Omkar Markam and Venugopal.&nbsp;
The development came days ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telanagana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram -- and about seven months ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;
Kharge had recently reconstituted the CWC, almost 10 months after being appointed as the party chief.&nbsp;
The reconstituted CWC has 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees and 13 special invitees. These include 15 women and several new faces such as Sachin Pilot and Gourav Gogoi, who are among the regular members.
— IANS

Days after reconstituting the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision making body, party President Mallikarjun Kharge

Kharge constitutes 16-member CEC; Sonia, Rahul included

Hyderabad: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) stands ready to write a new chapter of development with dignity for all people of Telangana and India.
On the eve of CWC meeting, beginning in Hyderabad on Saturday, the former Congress president said, “We had made a promise to the people of Telangana. We have fulfilled that promise. Congress has always stood by the
aspirations of people of Telangana. Now it’s time to lead the state into a new era of progress and prosperity.”
“The Congress Working Committee stands ready to write a new chapter of development with dignity for all people of Telangana and our nation,” she added.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge stated in his message that the Congress Working Committee will craft a comprehensive roadmap to lead the party towards victory.
“Congress fought for and ushered in democracy, social justice, progress and equality in our great nation. We will continue to fight for national integrity and unity in diversity,” he said.
“In consonance with our long cherished philosophy, the Congress Working Committee will craft a comprehensive roadmap to lead the party towards victory and strengthen the future of our nation and her people,” he added.
Kharge will preside over the CWC meeting, beginning at a hotel in Hyderabad Saturday afternoon. This will be the first meeting of the newly constituted CWC under Kharge’s presidency.
The highest decision-making body of the party will discuss and chalk out strategy for upcoming elections in five state assemblies and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
All the 84 members of CWC, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will be attending the meeting.
The CWC will hold an extended session on Sunday with all PCC presidents and CLP leaders.
A massive public rally will be held on Sunday evening at Tukkuguda on the outskirts of Hyderabad, where the party will unveil its six guarantees for Telangana Assembly polls.
—IANS

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) stands ready to write a new chapter of development

CWC ready to write new chapter of development: Sonia Gandhi

Hyderabad: With the Congress Working Committee (CWC) holding its crucial meeting in Hyderabad from Saturday, posters have come up in the city, mocking the party over corruption.
A poster describing the CWC as ‘Corrupt Working Committee’, carries pictures of 24 Congress leaders with scams they were allegedly involved in.
“Beware of scamgress scammers,” reads the poster.
The posters carry pictures of top Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The posters were put up at various places by the supporters of ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
Through other posters, the ruling party questioned Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on unfulfilled promises and controversial statement of the party’s Telangana leader.
“Madam Gandhi, do you agree to your PCC president’s statement that only 3HRS electricity supply is enough for farmers to do agriculture,” reads one of the posters.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy had reportedly said that farmers don’t need 24-hour electricity and that a three-hour supply will be sufficient.
Another poster targets Congress over its Scheduled Caste (SC) declaration.
“2004 to 2014 Congress was in power and fooled Dalits on SC categorization. Now again on the name of declaration you want to do the same?”
The BRS has also questioned the Congress on its promise to provide Rs.4,000 monthly pension for senior citizens.
A poster compares the pension being given in Telangana with the pension paid by Congress-ruled states.
“Old age pension: Congress in Karnataka Rs 400, Congress in Rajasthan Rs 1,000, Congress in Chhattisgarh Rs 500. KCR’s Telangana Rs 2,016”
Another poster recalls that during the Congress government, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi had promised national status for the Palamuru Rangareddy project.
“They failed to keep their promise. CM KCR started and completed Palamuru Rangareddy project September 16 trial run,” reads the poster.
—IANS

With the Congress Working Committee (CWC) holding its crucial meeting in Hyderabad from Saturday, posters have come up

BRS puts up posters in Hyderabad, mocks CWC

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad will deliberate on upcoming Assembly elections in five states.
He also condoled the death of the Army officers and personnel in the Jammu and Kashmir encounter.
While leaving for Hyderabad for the meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body meeting, Kharge told the media here, "This happens to be the first CWC meeting after I took charge as the party president."
He said that there is an extended meeting of the CWC on Sunday, where discussions related to the party will be done.
"Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra besides all senior leaders will attend the meeting which will focus on the upcoming elections in five states," he said.
"Discussions on the alliance (INDIA) will be done in the next meeting with our partners," Kharge said.
While replying to a question on Anantnag encounter, the Congress president said, "I pay tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation and express my condolences to their families. We stand with them."
The CWC meeting is scheduled from Saturday in Telangana’s Hyderabad to finalise the strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections in five states –Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram scheduled later this year.
The three-day's crucial meeting in Hyderabad is aimed at boosting the party's campaign in the poll-bound Telangana, officials said.
The Congress president will chair the CWC meeting.
On Friday, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said he is confident that the Congress would form a government in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram that go to polls later this year.
There could also be a discussion on holding 'Bharat Jodo Yatra 2'.
On Monday, the grand-old party will hold a mega rally in Hyderabad. "We will announce six guarantees for the people of Telangana. We hope that when the elections come, the party will get a clear mandate from the people," Congress general secretary communication incharge Jairam Ramesh said.
The Congress reconstituted the Congress Working Committee, and made some surprise additions last month.
The committee was formed 10 months after Mallikarjun Kharge became the party chief. It has 39 regular members, 32 permanent invitees and 13 special invitees.
—IANS

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad will deliberate

CWC meeting in Hyderabad to discuss Assembly polls in 5 states: Kharge

Hyderabad: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and top party leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Hyderabad on Saturday to attend Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
The top leaders reached the city together and drove straight to Taj Krishna hotel, where the CWC meeting is being held.
On their arrival at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Kharge and the Gandhis were accorded a warm welcome by AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, AICC incharge for Telangana Manikrao Thakrey, state Congress chief Revanth Reddy and other leaders.
The first meeting of the newly-constituted CWC began in the afternoon.
Barring former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, all CWC members will be attending the meeting.
The meeting will discuss and formulate the party's strategy for the upcoming assembly elections in five states including Telangana and also the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The CWC will hold an extended meeting on Sunday with all PCC presidents and CLP leaders.
A mega public rally will be held on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Sunday evening, which will be addressed by top party leaders.
The party will unveil its six guarantees for Telangana.
—IANS

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and top party leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Top Congress leaders arrive in Hyderabad for CWC meet

Hyderabad: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday began its crucial meeting here on Saturday to discuss and evolve a strategy for upcoming Assembly elections in five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The meeting of the highest decision-making body of the party started at Taj Krishna hotel with the flag hoisting by party president Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other top leaders.
After the ceremony, the CWC members began deliberations on the agenda. The meeting which started after 3 p.m. is likely to continue till the evening.
A festive atmosphere prevailed at the hotel with the leaders being welcomed with traditional dances by a group of artistes. Congress MLA Seethakka also joined the tribal dancers for some time.
Hectic activity was seen at the hotel in the heart of the city with the arrival of top leadership of the party for the first-ever CWC meeting in Hyderabad.
This is the first meeting of CWC after the 84-member body was reconstituted last month by Mallikarjun Kharge, who was elected party president in October last year.
The meeting will deliberate and formulate a strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.
It will also discuss the strategy for 2024 general elections in the light of formation of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) unitedly.
AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal said that the upcoming elections in five states, discussion on election preparedness and INDIA alliance will be among the agenda.
The CWC will continue deliberations on Sunday (September 17) at an extended session with all state party chiefs and CLP leaders. Over 140 leaders, including chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, will attend the meeting.
The party will also hold a mega public rally near Hyderabad on September 17 evening.
To be addressed by the top leadership, the meeting will unveil five guarantees for the Telangana Assembly election. The meeting coincides with September 17, which marks the anniversary of erstwhile Hyderabad State’s accession to the Indian Union.
After the public meeting, the Congress president will flag off the cavalcade of CWC members, PCC presidents and CLP leaders who will visit each of the 119 assembly constituencies of Telangana, for a night stay and participate in the party programmes on September 18 in the respective Assembly segments allotted to them.
The leaders will participate in door to door distribution of five guarantees and chargesheet against the BRS government. They will also have a community lunch with influencers and in the evening participate in Bharat Jodo March.
—IANS

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday began its crucial meeting here on Saturday to discuss and evolve a strategy for upcoming Assembly elections

CWC begins key meet in Hyderabad to evolve poll strategy

Hyderabad: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Modi government has been a "complete failure on all important fronts".&nbsp;
The Congress chief made the remarks during the first meeting of the newly-constituted Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad.
He said that Congress party has been playing a pivotal role as the principle opposition party.
Kharge also said that following the success of the third meeting of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in Mumbai, the government has been targeting the opposition parties with the central agencies.
In his opening remarks at the CWC, party's highest decision making body, Kharge said: "Congress has been playing a pivotal role as the principal opposition party at the Centre for the past nine-and-half years with committed determination in redressing concerns and grievance of the common people."
He emphasised that the country is at "crossroads" today facing many internal challenges.
Targeting the BJP-led central government, the Congress leader said: "Modi government has been a complete failure on all important fronts, in controlling inflation, unemployment, raging violence in Manipur, widening inequality and declining condition of farmers and labourers."
"The entire nation is witnessing the tragic events still unfolding in Manipur. The Modi government allowed the fire of Manipur to reach Nuh in Haryana," he said referring to the violence in Manipur which erupted on May 3.
Kharge asserted that these incidents tarnish the image of modern, progressive, and secular India.
"Our economy is in grave danger today. Inflation and rise in prices of all essential commodities has adversely affected the lives of the poor and common people. To add to the sorrows, a young country like ours is facing the grave challenge of record unemployment. The inequality gap is continuously deepening," he added.
Taking a pot shot at the government, Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said: "On top of this, the Modi government is handing over the prized PSUs of the country built since independence to a few crony-capitalist friends."
Referring to the natural calamities in states like Himachal Pradesh due to floods and landslides, and many other states facing the drought like situation, Kharge said: "There is also an urgent need to provide relief to the people affected by natural calamities like floods and droughts."
On national security, the Congress chief said: "The government's alleged negligence regarding China's encroachments poses a critical danger to the country's security. However, ignoring all these fundamental issues, Modi government has this tendency to repeatedly deflect and divert attention from real issues with empty slogans."
"The government brings slogans like 'Atma-nirbhar Bharat', '5 Trillion Economy', 'New India 2022', 'Amritkaal' and now, '3rd largest economy'. These are merely hollow words meant to distract the nation from the government's failures," Kharge added.
He also asserted that the Congress re-emphasises its commitment to protect the Constitution of India, the country's democracy, and the rights of the marginalised communities. "Being the main opposition party of India, it is our responsibility to be the voice of the people."
"Today 27 INDIA parties stand together on fundamental issues of importance. After three successful meetings, the INDIA Alliance is forging ahead to combat the anti-people and anti-democratic BJP government. Perturbed at this development, the BJP government is resorting to vindictive action against Opposition parties," Kharge said.
"We also strongly condemn the government's attempts to stifle opposition in Parliament and curtail public scrutiny in the Parliament... The forthcoming Special Session of Parliament raises concerns about the ruling party's intentions," he said.
The two-day (September 16 and 17) CWC meeting is underway in Hyderabad, where the party will also discuss the poll preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections in the states of the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, besides the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Kharge on August 20 ended months of suspense by reconstituting the CWC, which includes senior leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Sachin Pilot, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several others. The inclusion of Pilot came just months ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Rajasthan.
While the panel includes 39 general members, it has 32 permanent invitees, including some in-charges of state and 13 special invitees.
The list also includes presidents of the Youth Congress, the National Students' Union of India, the Mahila Congress and the Seva Dal as ex-officio members.
—IANS

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Modi government has been a "complete failure on all important fronts". 

Modi govt a 'complete failure' on all important fronts: Kharge at CWC

Hyderabad: On Saturday, Congress made a decision to make the I.N.D.I.A. bloc a "ideological and electoral success" in order to rid the country of "divisive politics" and give the people a government that is responsive and accountable to their needs.
The Congress Working Committee, at its first meeting since being reformed, adopted a resolution making this claim.
As for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.), the CWC "wholeheartedly" applauded its continued consolidation, saying it had already rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.—Inputs from Agencies

On Saturday, Congress made a decision to make the I.N.D.I.A. bloc a "ideological and electoral success" in order to rid the country of "divisive politics" and give the people a government that is responsive and accountable to their needs.

Cong resolves to make I.N.D.I.A. bloc 'ideological and electoral success' to free country from 'divisive politics'

Hyderabad: On Saturday, as a controversy erupted over comments made by DMK leaders about Sanatan Dharma, several Congress leaders urged the party to tread carefully and avoid aligning themselves with the BJP's agenda.
At a recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, sources say top leaders like Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh voiced their opinion that the party should refrain from getting involved in such matters.
As the poor have traditionally been the party's vote bank, Rahul Gandhi reportedly remarked that the leaders should focus on their issues rather than becoming embroiled in the Sanatan Dharma dispute.—Inputs from Agencies

On Saturday, as a controversy erupted over comments made by DMK leaders about Sanatan Dharma, several Congress leaders urged the party to tread carefully and avoid aligning themselves with the BJP's agenda.

Some Congress leaders call for adopting cautious approach on Sanatan Dharma row: Sources

New Delhi: Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is currently in Hyderabad for a two-day Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting wrote to Rajya Sabha General Secretary Pramod Chandra Mody about his inability to attend the flag hoisting function at the new Parliament building on Sunday.
In a letter to the Rajya Sabha General Secretary, Kharge said, "I am writing this letter with a sense of disappointment that I have received your invite for flag hoisting function tomorrow at New Parliament Building only on 15 September 2023 quite late in the evening."
"This is to inform you that meetings of the newly constituted CWC have been scheduled for September 16 and 17, respectively at Hyderabad," he said.
The LoP in Rajya Sabha said that since the programmes had been fixed much in advance, "I am presently in Hyderabad to hold the meetings".
"As I will return to Delhi late night on 17 September 2023, it will not be feasible for me to attend the function scheduled for tomorrow morning," he added.
Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar will hoist the national flag at the new Parliament building on Sunday, a day ahead of the five-day special session of Parliament.
The event will also be attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Ministers of State of Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghawal and V. Muraleedharan, and leaders of political parties in both Houses, among others.
A meeting of the floor leaders of all political parties is also scheduled at 4.30 p.m. on Sunday, ahead of the five-day special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22.
"Ahead of the parliament session from the 18 of this month, an all-party floor leaders meeting has been convened on the 17th at 4.30 P.M.," Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a social media post earlier this week. "The invitation for the same has been sent to concerned leaders through email. Letter to follow," he added.
—IANS

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is currently in Hyderabad for a two-day Congress Working Committee

Kharge skips flag hoisting function at new Parliament building, writes to RS General Secy

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision making body, has demanded that the Women’s Reservation Bill should be passed during the special session of Parliament.
The CWC, on the first day of a two-day meeting in Hyderabad, in its resolution has mentioned about the passage of the Bill in the special session scheduled from September 18 to 22.
In a tweet on X, Ramesh, who is also party's communication in-charge, said, "The Congress Working Committee has demanded that the Women’s Reservation Bill must be passed during the Special Session of Parliament."
He also highlighted some facts on the issue and said Rajiv Gandhi first introduced Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation in panchayats and nagarpalikas in May1989. It passed in the Lok Sabha but failed in the Rajya Sabha in September 1989.
He also said that then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao reintroduced the Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in April 1993. Both Bills were passed and became law.
"Now there are more than 15 lakh elected women representatives in panchayats and nagarpalikas. This comes to about 40 per cent," he said.
"As Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh brought Constitution Amendment Bill for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. Bill passed on March 9, 2010 in the Rajya Sabha. But it was not taken up in Lok Sabha. Bills introduced or passed in Rajya Sabha do not lapse. Women's Reservation Bill is still very much active.
"The Congress party has for the past nine years been demanding that the Women's Reservation Bill already passed by the Rajya Sabha should now get passed by the Lok Sabha as well," the Rajya Sabha MP added.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government then reintroduced the legislation, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, in 2008.
The legislation was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010, but it could not be passed in the Lok Sabha and it lapsed following its dissolution in 2014.
—IANS

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision making body

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