Nearly a month after Congress president Sonia Gandhi met the group of 23 leaders who wrote to her, seeking reforms within the party, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday said even though Sonia Gandhi promised internal elections, there is still no clarity on how and when that will happen.

Expressing his confusion on Congress’ internal polls, Sibal said it is extremely important for the Congress to revive itself as a political force in the country. Sibal told the Indian Express that the party believes that elections will be conducted consistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

He said the election of the president will be conducted along with the election of the Working Committee, and the election of the Central Election Committee. The party wants the institutions of the Parliamentary Board to be revived but since the meeting on December 19, they have had no response on how and when this will happen.

Speaking about disenchantment within the Congress, Kapil Saibal said, those who feel that it is already a political force which is doing all that it can, and the process of revival has started. He said there is a need to look at what is happening in various states. Several leaders from Delhi met him to express his concern about processes in Delhi and want the party to act swiftly, Sibal said.

Asking about the next step, he said these are dialogues that take place within the party and don’t want to enter into the merits or demerit matters of concern. There is a Constitution that the party governed by, and that all Congressmen must respect that constitution and its processes.

Also Read: Ahmedabad, Surat Metro: PM Modi performs bhoomi poojan

On the possibility of the return of Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president, he said the party does not respond to buzzes but to reality hence if any major change happens, all will eventually get to know.

The post Congress rebels: Kapil Sibal says still no clarity on internal polls appeared first on APN News.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will hold a meeting with 23 senior leaders who wrote to her in August seeking Congress organisational changes and effective leadership on Saturday.  

Gandhi finally agreed to meet the Congress rebels after seven-eight key leaders among the 23 leaders met several times in Delhi over the past week.The meeting will be coordinated by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will also be expected to be part of the meeting.

Twenty three rebels had signed the letter, out of which a core group of five or six leaders will meet Gandhi, the sources said. The grand old party claimed that the meeting is not only between the rebels and Gandhi, but those who were not signatories will also be part of the meeting.

Among those who are believed to become possible attendees include former union ministers Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tiwari, Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Maharashtra Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda among others.

Congress prominent leaders Manmohan Singh, A.K Antony, P Chidambaram, KC Venugopal are also expected to attend the meeting.

If sources are to be believed, Nath played a significant role in persuading Gandhi to meet dissident leaders, who had expressed concerns over the party’s downfall, and sought an overhaul of the party’s leadership in a letter.

Twenty three senior leaders also known as G23, including five former chief ministers, many members from Congress Working Committee(CWC), several former union ministers had sent a letter to the party chief earlier in August. With an outlined 11-point action plan, the dissident leaders sought a full time and effective leadership for the party which is active and visible on the ground, including sweeping Congress organisational changes.

Also Read: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina calls India a true friend; Modi terms Bangladesh significant pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First policy

The rebellions flared up again last month after Congress abysmal performance in Bihar elections. The meeting comes amid the growing criticism from veteran leaders Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad suggesting the party needs to strengthen its core.

The post Sonia Gandhi to meet Congress rebels questioning leadership appeared first on APN News.