Page 5 - Sonia Gandhi

Rajasthan crisis:Cong observers recommend action against 3 Gehlot loyalists

Congress observers for Rajasthan on Tuesday recommended disciplinary action against three party leaders, including two ministers, for the crisis in the state, but did not seek any action against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The three Gehlot loyalists against whom action has been recommended are Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Minister and Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Mahesh Joshi, and MLA Dharmendra Rathore. The observers - Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken - submitted their report to party chief Sonia Gandhi Tuesday evening, flagging "gross indiscipline" on the part of some leaders who organised a parallel meet of MLAs instead of joining a Congress Legislature Party meeting. The two observers had to return from Jaipur without holding the CLP meeting as a large group of MLAs considered loyal to Chief Minister Gehlot refused to join it and put forth certain conditions for the selection of Gehlot's successor. The sources said the report has not sought any action against Gehl

Sonia holds Himachal Central Election Committee amid Rajasthan crisis

Amid Rajasthan crisis, interim Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday convened Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to finalise names of candidates for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

Sonia seeks report on Jaipur rebellion, Gehlot less likely to be Cong Prez

Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken briefed president Sonia Gandhi on Monday regarding the developments in Rajasthan and will submit a written report about the crisis in the party's state unit by tonight or tomorrow. Talking to reporters after a nearly hour-long meeting with Gandhi, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Ajay Maken said they apprised the party president of the developments in the state after which she sought a detailed report on it. He said it was "unfortunate" that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) could not be held and termed the move of pro-Gehlot loyalist MLAs and ministers as "indiscipline". He added that the CLP meet was kept after Gehlot's consent and the place and time were set as per his request. He said the MLAs and ministers loyal to Chief minister Gehlot cannot pose conditions to the party leadership as they amount to a "conflict of interest". "Kharge ji and I have apprised the Congress president of the CLP meeting in Rajasthan. The Congress

Opposition unity 'core' for 2024 LS polls as Nitish and Lalu meet Sonia

The meeting came soon after several opposition leaders had come together to pay tribute to former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal in Haryana.

'New generation should get chance now': Gehlot fuels leadership change buzz

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said he has held constitutional posts for 40 years and the new generation should get a chance now, virtually admitting an imminent change of guard in the state. Gehlot, who has announced contesting for the post of Congress president, made the remarks during to a visit to Jaisalmer to offer prayer at the Tanot Mata Temple, in an indication that the Congress may choose Sachin Pilot as his successor in the state. Later in the day, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party is scheduled to be held at his residence in Jaipur. "I have said it earlier as well. No post is important to me. I am doing politics for last 50 years. I have remained on some constitutional post or other for 40 years. What more I can get and want. So, it is in my mind that the new generation should get a chance and we all will together give a leadership in the country," Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer. Gehlot said the media reported that he did not want to leave t

Congress party prepares for first non-Gandhi president after 1998

The coming week Congress leaders will be filing nomination papers for the presidential poll

Aiming to unite Oppn, Nitish, Lalu to meet Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today

With an aim to unite the entire Opposition to counter BJP, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today

Manoj Yadav appointed AICC Joint Secretary, in-charge of J-K, Ladakh

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appointed Manoj Yadav as Joint Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) with immediate effect.Along with this, he has been made Congress in-charge in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh."Congress President has appointed Manoj Yadav as Joint Secretary, AICC, attached to the AICC-in-charge of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh with immediate effect," AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said in a statement.Ghulam Nabi Azad left Congress on August 26. Earlier, Azad declined to accept the post of chairman of the Congress's campaign committee and a member of the political affairs committee in the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit.Earlier on Saturday, the filing of nominations for the post of Congress president began with a contest between Ashok Gehlot and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on the cards.The nominations will be filed till September 30 and results declaring the new Congress chief will be announced on October 19.This ...

Ashok Gehlot announces his candidature for AICC presidential polls

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot became the first person to announce his candidature for the AICC presidential poll on Friday, a day before the nomination process begins, and said Rahul Gandhi has told him that no one from the Gandhi family should become the next party chief. He also said the call on his successor to head the Rajasthan government will be taken by the party's interim president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Congress's Rajasthan in-charge, Ajay Maken. Gehlot's remarks came a day after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi batted for the "one-man, one-post" concept in the party, in line with the Chintan Shivir reforms earlier this year. With Shashi Tharoor likely to be the second contender and the names of several others also doing the rounds for joining the fray, Gehlot said the aim should be that all Congress members work together after the poll to strengthen the party. Talking to reporters in Kochi, the 71-year-old leader said, "I will fix the date (to submit the nominat

National Herald: ED issues notices to Cong leaders from Andhra, Telangana

The Enforcement Directorate has issued notices to some Congress leaders from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in connection with its ongoing money laundering investigation into the operations of the Congress party-owned National Herald newspaper, officials said Friday. While some of the politicians belonging to the party have been summoned for questioning here over the next few weeks, others have been given notices to explain certain payments made to Young Indian, the company that owns the news outlet. Officials said four leaders have been issued the notices. Earlier this week, Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar had told reporters after finishing his questioning session with the ED in Delhi that he was questioned about certain transactions made by him to this company in the past. "Surprisingly, they (ED officials) have asked me about the payment from one of my trust, from me and my brother, to Young Indian," he told reporters on September 19. Shivakumar said he had sought mor

Sonia, Priyanka Gandhi to participate in 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would participate in the Karnataka leg of the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" led by Rahul Gandhi that will be entering the state on September 30, state party chief D K Shivakumar said on Friday. Noting that the Karnataka Congress has made preparations for the yatra by giving responsibility to leaders, Shivakumar said Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will be participating in the yatra here; they will be giving dates. "...I will announce the dates in the future." AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal along with another AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, state Congress President Shivakumar and a host of leaders on Friday participated in the party's review meeting on the yatra. "In Karnataka, Congress President Sonia Gandhi may attend the Bharat Jodo Yatra some day, and Priyanka Gandhi will also be joining separately," Venugopal said. Noting that the Karnataka leg of the yatra will begin at Gundlupet

New Congress chief will be proxy of Gandhis, remote-controlled by them: BJP

The BJP on Friday claimed the new Congress president will be a "proxy" of the Gandhi family and will be remote-controlled by them "like" former prime minister "Manmohan Singh was". BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla cited the comment of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, seen as the likely next Congress president, that a call on his replacement will be taken by the party's interim chief Sonia Gandhi and its in-charge for the state Ajay Maken. "What capacity will she have as she will become a former president? Shouldn't Congress MLAs decide? If Gandhis will have the remote control then why this sham election," he said, referring to the ongoing poll process for the next president of the opposition party. He noted that Congress leader P Chidambaram had said recently that whoever be the next president, Rahul Gandhi will have a preeminent position in the party. "This was a proof that the next president of Congress will be a proxy of the Gandhis and will be remote controlle

In Kochi, Rahul Gandhi reminds Congress leaders of one man-one post rule

The statement came after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot showed interest in running for the post of party chief

Will meet Sonia along with Nitish soon to cobble up opposition unity: Lalu

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said that he along with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would soon meet Congress' interim president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi in an effort to unite all major non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He claimed that the BJP wants to disturb communal harmony in society to hide the real issues that are plaguing the people. I along with Nitish Kumar ji will meet Sonia (Gandhi) ji in Delhi. I will also meet Rahul Gandhi after completion of his padyatra. The united opposition will throw the BJP out of power in the next Lok Sabha polls, Prasad said while addressing the party's state council meeting. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's upcoming visit to the Seemanchal area of Bihar, the former chief minister said people need to be alert and careful. BJP leaders may instigate people of different communities to fight with each other in the state. Nitish ji is also very careful about this visit of the Union Home Minister, Prasad ...

Gehlot meets Sonia after hinting he could enter Congress prez poll fray

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi here on Wednesday, hours after he indicated that he may enter the AICC presidential poll fray. Sources said the Congress presidential poll was on the agenda during the discussions between Gehlot and Sonia Gandhi. The Rajasthan chief minister met Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence and is expected to fly to Mumbai later in the day. He is expected to reach Kochi on Thursday and make a last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the party. Talking to reporters after landing here from Jaipur, Gehlot, in a clear indication that he could throw his hat in the ring for the Congress presidential poll, said he will file his nomination if the party people wish so and fulfil any responsibility given to him. However, he also said he will make a last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take up the party president's post. Gehlot said he will take decisions with which the Congress is ...

Will abide by wishes of Congress people: Gehlot on party presidential poll

In a clear indication that he is likely to throw his hat in the ring for the Congress president polls, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said he will file his nomination if his party people wish so and fulfil any responsibility given to him. However, Gehlot, who is set to go to Kochi later in the day, said he will make one last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take up the party president's post. Speaking with reporters after landing here from Jaipur, Gehlot said he will take decisions with which the Congress is strengthened. "The party and high command have given me everything. I have been on posts for 40-50 years. For me no post is important, I will fulfil any responsibility given to me," he said. He also asserted that not only the Gandhi family, but scores of Congress members have faith in him. "I am very fortunate that I have got love and affection of Congress men and women across the country and they have faith in me," Gehlot said. "Therefore, if the

Cong to issue party prez polls notification; contest likely after 2 decades

The Congress' central election authority will issue a notification for the AICC president polls on Thursday, setting the ball rolling for electing the successor to the longest-serving party chief Sonia Gandhi. After over two decades, the Congress is likely to see a contest for the post of party chief with Shashi Tharoor looking set to enter the fray after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot indicating that he will throw his hat in the ring if Rahul Gandhi does not agree to take on the party's reins. The process for filing nominations for the election will be held from September 24 to 30. The date of scrutiny of the nomination papers would be October 1, while the last date of withdrawal of nominations would be October 8. The election, if there is more than one candidate, will take place on October 17, while counting of votes, if necessary, and the counting of votes and the declaration of results would be on October 19. Even though there is no cla

Tharoor gets Sonia's 'approval' to run for Congress President: Report

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday met Sonia Gandhi and expressed his intention to contest the upcoming AICC chief polls, while the Congress president conveyed that she would stay "neutral" in the elections, sources said. Gandhi welcomed the idea of more people contesting the polls and dispelled the notion that there would be an "official candidate", they said. The feedback by Gandhi on Tharoor's desire to contest is being seen by many as an encouragement to him to contest and he could announce his candidature in the next few days. With regard to Tharoor's meeting with Gandhi and the speculation over it, the Congress said no one needs a nod to contest the presidential election as it is an open, democratic and transparent process. "Anybody who wants to contest is free and welcome to do so. This has been the consistent position of Congress President and Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is an open, democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody's nod to contest," AICC ..

Jairam Ramesh seeks Nehru-Gandhi family's prominence in Congress Prez poll

With the process for electing the new Congress president round the corner, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh has batted for "consensus" in selecting the new AICC chief and sought to uphold the "prominence" of the Nehru-Gandhi family in the organisational matters in any sort of emerging situation. Ramesh, the AICC general secretary in-charge Communication, Publicity and Media, said even if somebody else is elected as the party chief in the October 17 polls, Sonia Gandhi will continue to be a person "everybody looks up to" and insisted Rahul Gandhi will be the "ideological compass" of the grand old organisation. He rejected the suggestion the Wayanad MP will do "backseat driving" in the event of somebody else being a Congress president, hailing the Gandhi scion as a very accommodative and democratic person. A party without a 'high command' would be 'anarchy,' he said. In an interview to PTI, the former Union Minister also opposed a section of Congress leaders' argument against its hi

Congress to issue delegates' list on Sep 20 for president post contenders

Anyone wanting to file nomination for the post of Congress president will be able see the list of all 9,000 delegates from the office of central election authority at the AICC office from September 20, Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry has said. Addressing the concerns of five MPs, including Shashi Tharoor, Karti Chidambaram, and Manish Tewari, over the electoral rolls and the "transparency, fairness" in the election process, Mistry said those seeking to contest the poll can check the names of 10 delegates from the list. Once the nomination is signed and handed over to the Chief Returning Officer, they will get the entire list of the delegates, he said in a letter to the MPs. "If anyone desires to get nominations from ten supporters from different states, the list of all 9000+ delegates will be available in my office at AICC, Delhi from 20th September (11 AM to 6 PM), before they file their nomination on 24th September," Mistry said in his letter to Tharoor and others. "They can co