The crippling electoral jolts once again failed to make the Congress Working Committee depart from its stereotyped responses. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, at the beginning of a meeting which lasted for nearly four and a half hours, played the “resignation offer” card, saying the Gandhis were ready to withdraw from the leadership if the colleagues had reservations about their capacity, predictably prompting most of the Gandhi-appointed CWC members to emotionally rally for her continuation till the completion of the organisational polls in August-September while urging her to make necessary changes. In their speeches, Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka, however, admitted that they made tactical mistakes and took wrong decisions in the runup to the polls.

The CWC also resolved to hold a ‘chintan shivar’, an oft-used device by the leadership to advertise that it’s serious about course-correction. Ahead of the meeting, a senior Congress leader is learnt to have approached some change-seekers on behalf of the leadership urging them to be restrained and not let the crisis spin out of control, promising to address the issues raised by them earlier.

CWC sources said that in her opening remarks, Sonia said that the “Gandhi family members are ready to withdraw” from the leadership if the CWC members had “reservations”. This led to the usual competitive loyalty show by the members who urged her to continue.

Interestingly, the AICC briefing after the CWC meeting chose not to advertise the “resignation card”, with the AICC or the spokespersons not releasing the text of the Congress president’s opening statement. Instead, a CWC statement was released which said: “While humbly accepting the electoral verdict of the latest round of assembly elections, the Congress party assures its workers and the people of India that it will continue to remain a vigilant and vibrant opposition. The Congress Party will be fully prepared to face the electoral challenges in the election-going states in 2022 and 2023 as well as in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The CWC unanimously reaffirms its faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and requests the Congress president to lead from the front, address the organisational weaknesses, effect necessary and comprehensive organisational changes in order to take on the political challenges.”

After Sonia opened the floor for “frank discussions”, change-seekers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Mukul Wasnik, though outnumbered in a gathering of 50-plus CWC members and invitees, asserted that they were committed Congressmen and objected to any attempt to portray “their objective criticisms” as anti-party activity at the behest of the BJP. While pointing out that the CWC has a history of dissent, heated debates and walkouts, Azad is said to have asked how their demands and proposals to strengthen the Congress’ fight against the BJP can be branded as a work at the BJP’s behest. He is also learnt to have said that the Congress needs a president who is “accessible”, “available” and “accountable”. Sources said he even pitched for the Congress taking the initiative to rally opposition parties against the BJP.

Anand Sharma is learnt to have laid stress on the need for AICC office-bearers to remain in the party office to meet workers and to end the practice of saddling PCC presidents with multiple working presidents. Sharma and Wasnik are learnt to have also demanded that the party should have ideological clarity and maintain equidistance from the majority and minority communalism, emphasising that the election-time temple hopping makes Rahul and Priyanka end up in the BJP’s strong pitch. Rahul is learnt to have said that the recent poll campaign failed to provide a creative narrative and stressed on the need to encourage the youth in the party. Priyanka admitted her poll gambit failed in UP despite best efforts. Tariq Anwar is learnt to have said that instead of getting dejected, the leaders should be ready to wage a long ideological war against the BJP. He is learnt to have said that now it’s time to wage a multi-pronged struggle as an opposition party against the Modi regime, BJP, RSS and even against the attempts of many regional parties who don’t want the Congress to revive. Before the meeting, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tried to set the mood by telling the media that the leadership of the Gandhi family was critical for the party’s unity, even as he called for Rahul’s return as Congress chief.