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CWC meet Highlights: Rahul's resignation accepted, Sonia back at helm

The CWC then decided to name Sonia Gandhi as the interim party chief.

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New Delhi, Aug 11: Sonia Gandhi was named interim Congress president on Saturday, returning at the helm after almost 20 months. The announcement was made on Saturday night after Congress Working Committee (CWC) accepted Rahul Gandhi's resignation during its second meeting of the day. A number of leaders, including state chiefs and MPs, backed Rahul Gandhi to continue on the post despite his refusal to reconsider his resignation. However, he did not budge from his stand of quitting as party chief. The CWC then decided to name Sonia Gandhi as the interim party chief.

File photo of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi
File photo of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi

Here are the highlights of CWC meet and what transpiredthe entire day to pick New Congress Chief

Aug 11, 2019, 12:47 AM IST

“The CWC considered the views of PCC presidents, CLP leaders, AICC secretaries and members of parliament. The CWC unanimously resolved that Shri Rahul Gandhi should continue as Congress president, as desired by all who were consulted today, and requested him to accept this decision. However, he declined to withdraw his resignation,” the party said in a statement later. “Consequently, the CWC unanimously resolved to request Sonia Gandhi to take over as interim president pending the election of a regular president by the AICC," it added.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:47 AM IST

Congress leader KC Venugopal at the press briefing said the CWC had passed three resolutions at the meeting.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:46 AM IST

Senior leader PL Punia said the party would decide on a new chief after internal elections. "We have decided to have Sonia Gandhi as the interim president of the party,” he said. “We will have a full-time president after our internal elections."
Aug 11, 2019, 12:45 AM IST

“Sonia Gandhi has the experience and from time to time, we have turned towards her for guidance, so it was only appropriate that she takes over,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a press conference after the meeting ended.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:45 AM IST

We asked Sonia Gandhi to take over as Interim President till the CWC conducts the elections for Permanent President, says KC Venigopal.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:43 AM IST

Congress Working Committee unanimously resolved that Rahul Gandhi should continue as Congress president and requested him to accept this decision, however, he declined to withdraw his resignation, says Venugopal.
Aug 11, 2019, 12:43 AM IST

Congress Working Committee (CWC) unanimously resolved to request Sonia Gandhi to take over as the Interim President, pending the election of a regular president by the AICC, says KC Venugopal in a briefing after CWC meeting.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:58 PM IST

It is yet to be made clear if she would be official next president or the interim presiden. But, Ghula Nabi Azad confirmed that "Sonia Gandhi is the new Congress president."
Aug 10, 2019, 10:55 PM IST

Sonia Gandhi is the new Congress chief, says Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:53 PM IST

CWC meeting ends. Decision on next Congress president is yet to be announced.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:53 PM IST

Their (Congress Working Committee) discussion is still going on. I was especially called because a discussion was happening on Jammu and Kashmir, says Rahul Gandhi.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:44 PM IST

Sonia Gandhi was asked to be the interim president but she turns down the request. CWC is yet to make up it mind.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:28 PM IST

We came to know about problems and Kashmir. Then we stopped the meeting and discussed Kashmir problems. We demand that the Prime Minister make it clear what is going on in Kashmir, says Rahul Gandhi. He said he was called to join discussion on Kashmir issue.
Aug 10, 2019, 10:04 PM IST

Veteran leader Mukul Wasnik and former Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, have emerged as the frontrunners for the post, reports News 18.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:54 PM IST

The party's top decision-making body will discuss reports of five groups, formed earlier in the day, to scrutinise names of potential successor to Rahul Gandhi. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi recused themselves from the consultation process saying they they cannot be part of it as they have been Congress presidents in the past and would not like the opinion of the party leaders to be influenced in any manner.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:39 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi arrives for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting underway at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:27 PM IST

PTI reports: At the crucial meeting, the report of five regional groups formed for wider consultation on the issue will be placed, with sources saying there was a consensus on Rahul Gandhi continuing as party chief. However, Gandhi had in the morning asserted that he would not take back his resignation, after CWC members unanimously urged him to reconsider. As the CWC members met at around 9 pm at the AICC headquarters here, Rahul Gandhi did not initially join the leaders, but sources said he was expected to attend the meeting later.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:18 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi, while resigning as the party president on May 25, had asked the CWC to elect a president from outside his family.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:17 PM IST

Earlier today, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and outgoing party head Rahul Gandhi refused to part of the consultation. "We cannot be part of this process," Sonia Gandhi said after she recused herself from the deliberations.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:17 PM IST

Doubts still hang whether Rahul Gandhi's resignation would be accepted.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:16 PM IST

Milind Deora's name also reportedly doing rounds.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:13 PM IST

Sonia Gandhi is present at the meeting.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:11 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi not part of the meeting as he had earlier said that he cannot be part of the process of new president selection.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:10 PM IST

Priyanka Gandhi's name also being reportedly discussed.
Aug 10, 2019, 9:01 PM IST

india today reports that Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia's name are also being considered.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:49 PM IST

The northern region group included Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia and P Chidambaram. The western region group was has leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, A K Antony and Motilal Vora. The group for the southern region included Manmohan Singh, Anand Sharma and Mukul Wasnik.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:48 PM IST

The CWC group for the northeast region included top party leaders such as Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat. The group for eastern region included AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, ex-Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and former Union minister Kumari Selja.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:48 PM IST

The CWC decided to have consultations with leaders from across the country and it was divided into five groups for different regions -- northeast, east, north, west and south.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:46 PM IST

"There is process of consultation and naturally Rahul ji and myself, we cannot be part of that consultation," Sonia Gandhi told reporters earlier today.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:46 PM IST

Earlier today, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday refused to participate in the consultation to pick next party chief.
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