The Congress steering committee overwhelmingly authorised party president Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate all working committee members on Friday (CWC). It stated that the CWC does not require an election. The 85th plenary session of the Congress commenced in Raipur.
Key updates on the Raipur Congress plenary session:
1. According to Jairam Ramesh, general secretary of communications for the Congress, the steering committee freely discussed CWC elections, and nearly all 45 members present at the meeting voted overwhelmingly to authorise the Congress president to select members.
2. Some CWC members expressed both support for and opposition to the polls, he claimed.
3. The Constitution of the Congress would be altered in 16 sections and 32 rules.
4. Keeping in mind the role the Congress will play in the current political situation and to meet political challenges, no election will be held in the CWC.
5. Past Cong presidents and prime ministers would be enrolled automatically into the CWC.
6. 50% reservation for SC+ST+OBCs+Women+Minorities+Youth in the CWC.
7. “We are fully confident that all AICC and PCC delegates will support this unanimous decision,” Ramesh said. “All past prime ministers and former presidents of the Congress party will be represented on the Working Committee,” he stated, outlining modifications to the party’s constitution.
8. Former presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi did not attend the meeting but are expected to arrive later in the day. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also absent from the steering committee meeting.
9. In his inauguration address, Kharge addressed the CWC elections, stating, “As Congress president, I ask you to express yourselves freely and make a collective decision. Whatever decision you make, it will be mine and everyone else’s.”
10. The history in the party has been to have a consensus body, and the committee allows the Congress president to choose his own body to prevent disputes.
(With inputs from PTI)
