Congress CWC meeting: After the crushing defeat in the assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Congress Party called a meeting of the Working Committee (CWC) in New Delhi on Friday. During this meeting, party president Mallikarjun Kharge clearly said that now responsibility will be fixed and strict decisions will be taken. Kharge also gave a statement regarding EVMs and said that the integrity of the election process is being ‘seriously compromised’ and Congress will soon start its agitation across the country.
Questions raised on EVM
The Congress President said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have made the election process doubtful and in such a situation, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. Top Congress leaders on Friday discussed the political situation in the country and the reasons for the party’s poor performance in the Maharashtra and Haryana elections, with many leaders alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
The working committee has decided that the concern over ‘serious tampering’ in the electoral process will be raised as a national movement. The party said that this issue will also be discussed with the parties of the Bharat Alliance.
‘We will have to take a tough decision’
Party President Kharge said that keeping in mind the defeat in the elections, a strict decision will have to be taken and accountability will also have to be fixed. Leaders should learn from the election results. Kharge believes that EVMs have made the election process suspicious. Questioning the workers, Kharge said that for how long will the state leaders of the party depend on national issues and national leaders in the assembly elections?
Rahul demanded action
Also, in view of the poor results of the party, Rahul Gandhi has insisted on acting strictly with Kharge. When it came to fixing responsibility for the elections, Rahul Gandhi said, ‘Kharge ji, take action.’
Claims cause loss: Kharge
Pointing to internal differences in the Congress, Kharge said, ‘The most important thing that I have been saying again and again is that due to lack of unity and making statements against each other, we are suffering a lot. Unless we fight elections as one and stop humiliating each other, how can we defeat the opposition? Party leaders will have to develop a strategy to effectively counter the propaganda and propaganda of the opponents.
The Congress President further said, ‘It is important that we strictly follow discipline… The party also has a weapon of discipline. But we do not want to bind the workers in any way. Six months ago the situation was in our favor in the Lok Sabha elections. But just because the odds are in favor does not guarantee victory. We have to learn to turn circumstances into results. Why can’t we take advantage of the situation? We have to work hard and make strategies in a timely manner. The organization will have to be strengthened at the booth level. From preparing the list of voters to counting of votes, one will have to be alert, alert and alert day and night. Our preparations should be such that from the beginning till the counting of votes, our workers and ‘system’ work with full dedication.
Chidambaram in favor of EVM
During the deliberations, some leaders criticized the leaders for going against the party president’s stand against EVMs and said it tarnished the image of the issue being raised by the leadership. After Kharge expressed doubt on EVMs and the election process, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram spoke in favor of EVMs.
Party general secretary and communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said that agitation and rally will be organized to raise concerns over the election process and parties of the Bharat alliance will also participate in it. Addressing a press conference with Pawan Kheda. C. Venugopal said it has been decided to form internal committees to look into the electoral performance and organizational issues of the CWC. Members of this panel will also visit Maharashtra and talk to the leaders and workers there. During this period, the losses incurred in the elections will be compensated.
CWC said there was rigging in the elections
The CWC resolution said that the performance of Congress in Haryana has been contrary to all expectations. There have been irregularities in the elections, which have affected the results of the state. Which has been ignored. Along with this, CWC admitted that the performance of Congress and its alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Maharashtra Assembly elections has been shocking.
Congress Working Committee said, the party should keep strengthening its narrative. This includes caste census to ensure complete social justice, removal of 50 per cent cap on reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs, control over growing monopoly in the economy through political patronage and continuous price rise and rising unemployment.
Worst performance of Congress
Congress won only 16 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly, which is its worst performance so far. Mahavikas Aghadi’s allies Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) won 10 and 20 seats respectively. The CWC expressed hope that Kharge would soon complete a comprehensive statewide review and take necessary action.