‘Kharge ji, take action’, Rahul Gandhi told Congress President in CWC meeting, Maharashtra-Haryana defeat discussed openly

New Delhi: After the crushing defeat in Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress Party Working Committee met in New Delhi on Friday. During the meeting, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said bluntly that now accountability will be fixed and tough decisions will be taken. He also made a statement about EVMs and said that the integrity of the entire electoral process is being “seriously compromised” and Congress will soon launch a nationwide movement against it.

The Congress President said that the electronic voting machine has made the electoral process suspicious 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 deliberated on the political situation in the country and discussed the reasons for the party’s poor performance in the Maharashtra and Haryana elections, in which many leaders alleged “irregularities” in the election process.

The working committee decided that the concern related to the “serious compromise” being made in the electoral process will be raised as a national movement. The party also says that it will also take along the constituents of the ‘India’ alliance on this issue.

‘We will have to take tough decisions’

Party chief Kharge said that in view of the electoral defeat, “tough decisions” will have to be taken and accountability will have to be fixed. He said that the leaders will have to learn a lesson from the election results. However, he admitted that EVMs have made the electoral process “suspicious”. The Congress chief also asked how long will the party’s state leaders depend on national issues and national leaders in the assembly elections. He also said that Congress is an organization of resistance and party leaders should have faith in it. 81 leaders participated in the marathon meeting that lasted for about four and a half hours.

Rahul said – take action

At the same time, Rahul Gandhi urged Kharge to “act strictly” in view of the party’s poor results. According to PTI, when the matter of fixing accountability for the elections was being discussed, Rahul Gandhi said, “Kharge ji, take action.”

Harm caused by mutual rhetoric – Kharge

Targeting the discord within the Congress, Kharge said, “The most important thing that I say again and again is that lack of mutual unity and rhetoric against each other harms us a lot. Unless we fight the elections unitedly, and stop making statements against each other, how will we be able to give a political defeat to our opponents?” He said that the party will have to develop a strategy to effectively counter the “propaganda and misinformation” of its rivals.

Kharge said, “It is important that we strictly follow discipline… the party also has the weapon of discipline. But we do not want to put our workers in any bondage.” About the Maharashtra elections, he said, “In the Lok Sabha elections six months ago, the mood was in our favour. But just being in our favour does not guarantee victory. We have to learn to convert the mood into results. What is the reason that we are unable to take advantage of the mood?”

He stressed, “We have to work hard and make strategies in a timely manner. We have to strengthen our organisation down to the booth level. We have to be vigilant, alert and cautious day and night from the preparation of the voter list to the counting of votes. Our preparation should be such from the beginning till the counting of votes that our workers and the ‘system’ work diligently.”

Chidambaram in favour of EVM

During the deliberations, some leaders criticised those who went against the party chief’s stand against EVMs and said that it tarnishes the image of the leadership and the issues raised. After Kharge expressed doubts over EVMs and the election process, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram spoke in favour of EVMs.

Party general secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh said that there will be agitations and rallies over concerns over the election process and India Block parties will participate in them. Addressing a press conference along with party general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organization K C Venugopal said that the CWC has decided to form internal committees to consider electoral performance and organizational matters.
Surprised at election results

He said that after Haryana, the panel members will also visit Maharashtra and talk to the leaders and workers there and assess the loss. Regarding the results of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Venugopal said that the election results in the state are “beyond common sense and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation.”

The CWC resolution said that the performance of the Congress in Haryana has been contrary to all expectations. The resolution said that “there have been electoral irregularities that have affected the result in the state, which have been overlooked.” The CWC “acknowledged” that the performance of the Congress and its Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in the Maharashtra assembly elections has been surprising.

The Congress Working Committee said, “The party must continue to strengthen its narrative. This includes caste census to ensure complete social justice, removal of 50 percent cap on reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs, control over growing monopolies in the economy through political patronage and continuous price rise and rising unemployment.” In the elections for the 88-member Maharashtra Assembly, the Congress performed its worst, winning only 16 seats. Its MVA allies Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena won only 10 and 20 seats respectively. The CWC expressed hope and confidence that Mallikarjun Kharge will soon complete a detailed state-wise review and take necessary action.