Rahul Gandhi chairs first Congress Working Committee meeting

New Delhi, July 22: Congress President Rahul Gandhi chaired the first meeting of the recently-constituted Congress Working Committee on Sunday, 22 July, in the Parliament Annexe Building.

Rahul, his mother and previous party president, Sonia Gandhi, and senior general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, were among the key speakers at the meeting.

Speaking at the event, Congress spokeperson, RS Surjewala said,''Rahul Gandhi calls the newly constituted CWC as an institution comprising of experience & energy, as a bridge between the past, present and the future. Calls upon Congressmen/women to rise and fight for India's oppressed.''

''Dr. Manmohan Singh rejects culture of constant self praise&Jumlas of PM as against solid policy framework for driving engine of growth. Points out claim of doubling farm income by 2022 will require an Agri Growth Rate of 14%, which is nowhere in sight,'' he further said.

Gandhi on July 17 reconstituted the party's highest decision-making body with a blend of experienced and GenNext leaders.

Of the 51 members, 23 are in the main panel, followed by 18 permanent invitees and 10 special invitees.

CWC, which acts as an advisory panel on all key decisions of the party, has not been in place since a plenary session in March. The committee also has some veteran leaders on it, including Motilal Vora, Ashok Gehlot and AK Antony.