Rumble in Cong Family versus dissenter creates ripples at CWC meet

Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka and their supporters tore into the letter writers, sparking off a controversy after claiming that Congress dissenters have colluded with BJP.

Sonia Gandhi, the interim president, apparently asked the Committee to search for replacement and longtime Gandhi loyalist Ahmed Patil has recommended Rahul Gandhi as president.

CWC will likely to call AICC meeting to decide about the successor.

26 top Congress leaders including former chief ministers, former Union ministers, members of CWC, senior office-bearers in a letter to Congress national chief Sonia Gandhi had demanded a full-time, visible leadership and asked for sweeping reforms in the organisation and its elections.

Besides a full-time, effective, active and visible president they also wanted a national coalition with like-minded parties cobbled up.

The letter comes in the backdrop of young leaders Rahul leaving the leadership of the Congress, his mother Sonia taking over and allegations of youth being sidelined despite playing a key role in winning being sidelined by the Congress in favour of senior leaders.

CONGRESS CRACKS

26 top Cong leader write to Sonia Gandhi

Demand party head replaced

Claim erosion in support base of party

Claims lack of honest introspection in election defeats

Seek full-time, effective, active, visible president

want coalition of like-minded national parties.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the timing of the letter claiming that Congress dissenters demanding replacement of Congress leadership had colluded with BJP. Rahul said the letter was written when Sonia Gandhi was admitted in hospital.

CONGRESS CRACKS

Kapil Sibbal reacts to Rahul's statement on tweet

Later, backtracks and deletes the tweet after Rahul calls him

Says, all okay

Sonia Gandhi has show willingness to resign and asked Congress leadership to find a replacement.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, senior leader, AK Antony, said if she did not continue, Rahul Gandhi should take over as party president.

In the virtual CWC meet Manmohan Singh asked Sonia Gandhi to remain party president and hit out at the signatories of the letter.