CWC meet today on loss, Rahul may offer to quit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 24

Stunned by the shock defeat of the Congress in the second consecutive Lok Sabha election, party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to make an offer of resignation at a crucial meeting of the working committee called tomorrow.

A spate of resignations is likely at the meeting in a repeat of a similar exercise after the 2014 electoral loss of the Congress, which hit a historic low of 44 MPs. At that time, then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had offered to resign, as had then vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The CWC rejected the resignations, terming these “no solutions” and adopted a resolution expressing full faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and authorising her to conduct a thorough revamp of the party. With the Congress managing barely 52 seats this time, it is clear the structural reforms Sonia Gandhi and

Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice-president in 2014, promised, did not take place. That explains the pressure of repeating the 2014 CWC script which, Congress veterans say, may again see a spate of resignations with several top leaders in responsible positions making their respective offers to resign and in a way taking collective responsibility for the party’s second crushing. Those who are likely to offer to resign along with Rahul are CMs of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP, who failed to hold on to the mandates after winning the state polls in 2018.  Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh will also attend the CWC. 

Though Congress veterans said the 2019 loss is bigger than the 2014 defeat considering Rahul lost Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani, they add that resignations would not be accepted as the party has no current alternative to the Gandhis.  The Congress has also not won enough seats to claim the post of Leader of Opposition in LS. In many ways then, it stands where it was in 2014.

It remains to be seen how Rahul conducts himself tomorrow after taking “100 per cent moral responsibility” for the party’s loss. Insiders feel a spate of resignations from senior leaders (UP chief Raj Babbar sent his resignation today) is meant to push the narrative towards collective failure, thereby laying ground for the argument that everyone in the party can’t resign at this critical juncture. 

The party has not won any seat this time in 19 states. Rahul yesterday said the matter of his resignation was between the Congress and him and would be discussed at the CWC meet. This was the first LS poll the party fought under the presidency of Rahul, who took over as party chief in 2017.

‘Will bounce back under his leadership’

After the 2019 mandate, rumours of Cong chief’s resignation are baseless and irrelevant. We shall never forget that it was because of Rahul’s tireless efforts and fighting spirit that Cong was able to put up a strong challenge to NDA government… Under Rahul’s exemplary leadership, we will bounce back. Ashok Gehlot