Within a short span of the formation of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government with a wafer-thin majority, the question being asked by people across the board in Madhya Pradesh is whether it's changed (after 15 years of BJP rule) for the better or worse?

The image of the state government has&nbsp;started declining and what's added velocity to this fall is the crushing defeat the Congress party has suffered in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Nath began his innings as Madhya Pradesh chief minister on a robust note, especially given his reputation as an experienced administrator and long exposure as a Union Minister. The background and also the hybrid political stature exclusively derived from the closeness to the Nehru-Gandhi family notwithstanding, Nath assumed the seat of power in Madhya Pradesh with the unwritten rider that a large part of his strength in the Assembly was courtesy Digvijaya Singh, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, who commands the biggest support base in the state cabinet that also includes his son Jaivardhan Singh, who holds the portfolio of the high profile Urban Development and Housing department. In this backdrop, those in knowledgeable circles even started saying that besides the chief minister, there is also an extra-constitutional power centre in the state.

Regarding Nath's grip on administration, everyone having a ringside view knows how particular the chief minister is when it comes to spending long hours at Mantralaya - the state secretariat. They do credit him for introducing a new work culture that keeps the babudom&nbsp;on its toes.&nbsp;

The bureaucracy doesn’t have much to complain on this count but what's keeping them jittery is the sword of transfers constantly hanging over them.

Within a short time span, there's been a slew of transfers at all levels and the signals are that the transfer industry is now fully entrenched. Adding to the downside also is the anger that's brewing among the Congress workers. A senior party leader, who preferred to call himself a "disciplined party worker" said the other day “God save his party” after the electoral debacle in general election 2019.&nbsp;

Referring to his party managing to win only 1 of the 29 parliamentary seats in the state, he said the chief minister is not accessible to party workers like him, who have devoted their entire life to the Congress party. This is not the way forward, he opined adding even the Congress President is annoyed as the chief minister could hold his own turf by getting his son elected from Chhindwara, his traditional parliamentary constituency, while every other Congress candidate was defeated in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh began what's supposed to be a "five-year run" with the tall pre-2018 Assembly election promise that all farmers' debt would be waived once the Congress gets elected to power. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had shouted from the rooftop about the waiver of rural loans to woo the farmers during electioneering for the general election to the state Assembly. This one promise became a waterloo moment for Congress party in the parliamentary election as the farmers felt robbed when it came to the implementation of this promise. Now the dilemma on the ruling side is the banks telling the farmers who have benefitted from the loan waiver scheme that they would not be eligible for new loans. No wonder they are feeling cornered and cheated.

This summer season, mercury has soared crossing all limits and just as the people feeling the heat like never before, the state Congress unit bosses both in the government and the party are feeling the political heat as there is the growing talk of the Kamal Nath government losing its majority on the floor of the state Assembly. BJP insiders are responding to this speculation by saying that they are not interested in destabilising or pulling the rug out from under the present government. They will prefer to wait and watch it crumble under its own weight and growing dissidence within. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Within a short span of the formation of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government with a wafer-thin majority, the question being asked by people across the board in Madhya Pradesh is whether it's changed (after 15 years of BJP rule) for the better or worse?

Within a short span of the formation of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government with a wafer-thin majority, the question being asked by people across the board in Madhya Pradesh is whether it's changed (after 15 years of BJP rule) for the better or worse? The image of the state government has started declining and what's added velocity to this fall is the crushing defeat the Congress party has suffered in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. Nath began his innings as Madhya Pradesh chief minister on a robust note, especially given his reputation as an experienced administrator and long exposure as a Union Minister. The background and also the hybrid political stature exclusively derived from the closeness to the Nehru-Gandhi family notwithstanding, Nath assumed the seat of power in Madhya Pradesh with the unwritten rider that a large part of his strength in the Assembly was courtesy Digvijaya Singh, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, who commands the biggest support base in the state cabinet that also includes his son Jaivardhan Singh, who holds the portfolio of the high profile Urban Development and Housing department. In this backdrop, those in knowledgeable circles even started saying that besides the chief minister, there is also an extra-constitutional power centre in the state. Regarding Nath's grip on administration, everyone having a ringside view knows how particular the chief minister is when it comes to spending long hours at Mantralaya - the state secretariat. They do credit him for introducing a new work culture that keeps the babudom on its toes. The bureaucracy doesn’t have much to complain on this count but what's keeping them jittery is the sword of transfers constantly hanging over them. Within a short time span, there's been a slew of transfers at all levels and the signals are that the transfer industry is now fully entrenched. Adding to the downside also is the anger that's brewing among the Congress workers. A senior party leader, who preferred to call himself a "disciplined party worker" said the other day “God save his party” after the electoral debacle in general election 2019. Referring to his party managing to win only 1 of the 29 parliamentary seats in the state, he said the chief minister is not accessible to party workers like him, who have devoted their entire life to the Congress party. This is not the way forward, he opined adding even the Congress President is annoyed as the chief minister could hold his own turf by getting his son elected from Chhindwara, his traditional parliamentary constituency, while every other Congress candidate was defeated in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh began what's supposed to be a "five-year run" with the tall pre-2018 Assembly election promise that all farmers' debt would be waived once the Congress gets elected to power. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had shouted from the rooftop about the waiver of rural loans to woo the farmers during electioneering for the general election to the state Assembly. This one promise became a waterloo moment for Congress party in the parliamentary election as the farmers felt robbed when it came to the implementation of this promise. Now the dilemma on the ruling side is the banks telling the farmers who have benefitted from the loan waiver scheme that they would not be eligible for new loans. No wonder they are feeling cornered and cheated. This summer season, mercury has soared crossing all limits and just as the people feeling the heat like never before, the state Congress unit bosses both in the government and the party are feeling the political heat as there is the growing talk of the Kamal Nath government losing its majority on the floor of the state Assembly. BJP insiders are responding to this speculation by saying that they are not interested in destabilising or pulling the rug out from under the present government. They will prefer to wait and watch it crumble under its own weight and growing dissidence within. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Kamal Nath-led Congress government feels the heat in Madhya Pradesh

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has circulated a list of vacant bungalows for MPs that interestingly includes 12, Tughlaq Lane, the official residence of Congress president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modis-lok-sabha-poll-campaign-filled-with-lies-poison-and-hatred-rahul-gandhi-in-wayanad-225428">Rahul Gandhi since 2004</a> when he first became a Member of Parliament after winning from Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

The circular, a copy of which has been accessed by ANI, includes the addresses of various bungalows to be allotted to those who have won the elections recently.

Gandhi's current bungalow comes in 'Type 8' category which is the highest.

The Congress leader, who lost from his traditional Amethi seat, however, won the election from Wayanad in Kerala in the recently concluded elections.

As per rules, a list of vacant bungalows/flats is given to MPs on behalf of the Lok Sabha Secretariat from which they can choose and apply.&nbsp;

This time, MPs have been provided with a list of 517 flats and bungalows. Rahul Gandhi's bungalow has been mentioned for allocation on the same list.

According to sources, Gandhi's office does not have any knowledge about such a circular.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has circulated a list of vacant bungalows for MPs that interestingly includes 12, Tughlaq Lane, the official residence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004 when he first became a Member of Parliament after winning from Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has circulated a list of vacant bungalows for MPs that interestingly includes 12, Tughlaq Lane, the official residence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004 when he first became a Member of Parliament after winning from Amethi Lok Sabha seat. The circular, a copy of which has been accessed by ANI, includes the addresses of various bungalows to be allotted to those who have won the elections recently. Gandhi's current bungalow comes in 'Type 8' category which is the highest. The Congress leader, who lost from his traditional Amethi seat, however, won the election from Wayanad in Kerala in the recently concluded elections. As per rules, a list of vacant bungalows/flats is given to MPs on behalf of the Lok Sabha Secretariat from which they can choose and apply. This time, MPs have been provided with a list of 517 flats and bungalows. Rahul Gandhi's bungalow has been mentioned for allocation on the same list. According to sources, Gandhi's office does not have any knowledge about such a circular.

Rahul Gandhi's residence at Delhi's Tughlaq Lane declared 'vacant', put on MPs allocation list

While the Congress has always maintained that no crisis is going on within the party after facing defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the real picture is quite different from what they are claiming.

The Congress party units across the country are getting into an internal tiff instead of analysing the reasons behind losing the poll battle.

The Congress was badly defeated in the Hindi belt states in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leaders in most of the states have started getting into an argument with each other over the defeat. It is worth mentioning that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has so far not opened up about the ongoing misery happening within the party.

As per reports, internal tiffs are also going on in Jammu and Kashmir after the Congress's drubbing in the state in Lok Sabha polls for which, the party has blamed the National Conference.

Congress had alleged that Farooq and Omar Abdullah did not campaign for the party in Jammu.

Two AICC meetings to analyse the reasons behind defeat went inconclusive. In fact, the meeting of Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad with states leaders was also postponed.

According to sources, the state leaders want a change in leadership while a faction has also proposed an offer to divide state Congress into three parts.

In Punjab, state cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has always been critical against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Actor-turned-politician Sidhu has denied taking charges of the new post given to him in the cabinet.

Sidhu, who has been under fire from Captain Amarinder for the Congress'&nbsp;poor performance in urban areas, was given Power and Energy Sources Ministry.

The tension between the two Congressmen had also come out in the open on a few occasions in the past.

In Punjab, Congress won eight parliamentary seats out of 13 while four seats went to BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alliance and AAP bagged a seat- Sangrur.

In Rajasthan, many leaders and MLAs have come out against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, which led to the internal conflict within the Congress unit in the state.

The Congress that had won 99 out of 200 seats in state Assembly polls last year and formed the government with the support of its pre-poll ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), failed to open its account in the recently-concluded general elections.

Chief Minister Gehlot's son Vaibhav had contested from Jodhpur Assembly seat but lost to BJP's Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by a margin of 2.74 lakh votes.

The Chief Minister had extensively campaigned for his son after which Congress President lashed out at Gehlot for ignoring the rest of the state during crucial polls. Meanwhile, supporters of Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot have demanded a change in the leadership.

Following Congress'&nbsp;crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, Haryana which is going to Assembly elections in three months is also facing trouble within the party.

Many leaders are seeking the removal of the party's state chief Ashok Tanwar and renewed fighting in the ranks.

Haryana former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda convened a meeting at his residence in New Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Hooda said, "The meeting was called to discuss the future course of action for upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. It was decided to fight the polls unitedly. But it is surprising that state party chief Ashok Tanwar was not present in the meeting nor Congress Legislative Party chief Kiran Chaudhary."

The internal bickering, which had been brewing within the party for long, came out in the open in the Congress war room when Tanwar had a verbal spat with senior leaders after MLA Jaitirath Dahiya wrote to Rahul Gandhi against him.

Trouble turned intense in the Congress's Haryana unit due to the debacle in general elections where the party failed to win a single seat out of a total of 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

Haryana, where 90-Assembly seats are at stake, is scheduled to go to polls in October this year.

In Maharashtra, a post of Congress MLA is still vacant after Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, resigned from it.

Post the Lok Sabha drubbing, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, too, had offered his resignation.

The development has come after the party's poor performance in the general elections and months before the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The current developments are likely to dent the Congress's bid in the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

In Jharkhand, taking responsibility for the defeat in the polls, Congress'&nbsp;state party President Ajay Kumar also offered to resign from the party post.

Congress had fought on seven seats in alliance with the JMM, RJD and JVM-P in the polls.

Congress won the Singhbhum seat and JMM won the Rajmahal seat. The situation in the state became tenser after when Jharkhand Pradesh chief PN Singh went to the party office to discuss the reasons behind polls debacle but faced outrage by the supporters.

As exit polls predicted a thumping majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, Roshan Baig hit out at the state Congress leadership and party in-charge KC Venugopal.

In a major setback to the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka in the recent elections, the BJP won 25 parliamentary constituencies out of a total of 28. Congress was left with just one seat.

Rahul Gandhi, who became the party president in 2017, offered to step down from his post at the CWC meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for Congress'&nbsp;dismal performance in the 17th general elections.

However, his resignation offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC. So far, several top leaders have met Gandhi and urged him to continue to lead the party.

The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

While the Congress has always maintained that no crisis is going on within the party after facing defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the real picture is quite different from what they are claiming.

While the Congress has always maintained that no crisis is going on within the party after facing defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the real picture is quite different from what they are claiming. The Congress party units across the country are getting into an internal tiff instead of analysing the reasons behind losing the poll battle. The Congress was badly defeated in the Hindi belt states in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Congress leaders in most of the states have started getting into an argument with each other over the defeat. It is worth mentioning that Congress President Rahul Gandhi has so far not opened up about the ongoing misery happening within the party. As per reports, internal tiffs are also going on in Jammu and Kashmir after the Congress's drubbing in the state in Lok Sabha polls for which, the party has blamed the National Conference. Congress had alleged that Farooq and Omar Abdullah did not campaign for the party in Jammu. Two AICC meetings to analyse the reasons behind defeat went inconclusive. In fact, the meeting of Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad with states leaders was also postponed. According to sources, the state leaders want a change in leadership while a faction has also proposed an offer to divide state Congress into three parts. In Punjab, state cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has always been critical against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Actor-turned-politician Sidhu has denied taking charges of the new post given to him in the cabinet. Sidhu, who has been under fire from Captain Amarinder for the Congress' poor performance in urban areas, was given Power and Energy Sources Ministry. The tension between the two Congressmen had also come out in the open on a few occasions in the past. In Punjab, Congress won eight parliamentary seats out of 13 while four seats went to BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alliance and AAP bagged a seat- Sangrur. In Rajasthan, many leaders and MLAs have come out against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, which led to the internal conflict within the Congress unit in the state. The Congress that had won 99 out of 200 seats in state Assembly polls last year and formed the government with the support of its pre-poll ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), failed to open its account in the recently-concluded general elections. Chief Minister Gehlot's son Vaibhav had contested from Jodhpur Assembly seat but lost to BJP's Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by a margin of 2.74 lakh votes. The Chief Minister had extensively campaigned for his son after which Congress President lashed out at Gehlot for ignoring the rest of the state during crucial polls. Meanwhile, supporters of Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot have demanded a change in the leadership. Following Congress' crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, Haryana which is going to Assembly elections in three months is also facing trouble within the party. Many leaders are seeking the removal of the party's state chief Ashok Tanwar and renewed fighting in the ranks. Haryana former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda convened a meeting at his residence in New Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Hooda said, "The meeting was called to discuss the future course of action for upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. It was decided to fight the polls unitedly. But it is surprising that state party chief Ashok Tanwar was not present in the meeting nor Congress Legislative Party chief Kiran Chaudhary." The internal bickering, which had been brewing within the party for long, came out in the open in the Congress war room when Tanwar had a verbal spat with senior leaders after MLA Jaitirath Dahiya wrote to Rahul Gandhi against him. Trouble turned intense in the Congress's Haryana unit due to the debacle in general elections where the party failed to win a single seat out of a total of 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Haryana, where 90-Assembly seats are at stake, is scheduled to go to polls in October this year. In Maharashtra, a post of Congress MLA is still vacant after Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, resigned from it. Post the Lok Sabha drubbing, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, too, had offered his resignation. The development has come after the party's poor performance in the general elections and months before the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The current developments are likely to dent the Congress's bid in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. In Jharkhand, taking responsibility for the defeat in the polls, Congress' state party President Ajay Kumar also offered to resign from the party post. Congress had fought on seven seats in alliance with the JMM, RJD and JVM-P in the polls. Congress won the Singhbhum seat and JMM won the Rajmahal seat. The situation in the state became tenser after when Jharkhand Pradesh chief PN Singh went to the party office to discuss the reasons behind polls debacle but faced outrage by the supporters. As exit polls predicted a thumping majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, Roshan Baig hit out at the state Congress leadership and party in-charge KC Venugopal. In a major setback to the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka in the recent elections, the BJP won 25 parliamentary constituencies out of a total of 28. Congress was left with just one seat. Rahul Gandhi, who became the party president in 2017, offered to step down from his post at the CWC meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the 17th general elections. However, his resignation offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC. So far, several top leaders have met Gandhi and urged him to continue to lead the party. The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

Congress turning into a divided house due to infighting among leaders

Former union minister Aslam Sher Khan on Friday said he has offered to step into Rahul Gandhi's shoes as the Congress President after Rahul said he wanted someone from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to assume the responsibility.

"I wrote the letter when Rahul Gandhi offered to leave the post of Congress President and asked someone from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to take over his role. In the letter, I mentioned that if Rahul wanted to continue at the post he very well could, but if not, then I would like to assume the responsibility for two years," he told ANI here.

Khan is the first leader to stake claim to the post after Gandhi offered his resignation at the Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi on May 25 following the debacle in Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had unanimously rejected the offer and passed a new resolution which authorised Gandhi to revamp the organisation.Khan added his intent behind writing the letter was to ensure a makeover of the party and there were no hopes for any personal gains.

"The letter was not written for personal gains. It is because I believe Congress needs a makeover and it needs to be realigned with the nationalist identity. It is because of these reasons that I became ready to assume the responsibilities when the party is going through tough times," he said.

Khan, however, said he did not blame Rahul for the defeat as "he left no stone unturned but the narrative of the Congress simply failed to connect with the people and they again went with Narendra Modi."

He talked about luck stating that a change is needed to improve the chances of the oldest party in India and added, "No doubt a change is needed and if someone who is a better candidate than me, can also be given the role."

Former union minister Aslam Sher Khan on Friday said he has offered to step into Rahul Gandhi's shoes as the Congress President after Rahul said he wanted someone from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to assume the responsibility.

Former union minister Aslam Sher Khan on Friday said he has offered to step into Rahul Gandhi's shoes as the Congress President after Rahul said he wanted someone from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to assume the responsibility. "I wrote the letter when Rahul Gandhi offered to leave the post of Congress President and asked someone from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to take over his role. In the letter, I mentioned that if Rahul wanted to continue at the post he very well could, but if not, then I would like to assume the responsibility for two years," he told ANI here. Khan is the first leader to stake claim to the post after Gandhi offered his resignation at the Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi on May 25 following the debacle in Lok Sabha elections. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had unanimously rejected the offer and passed a new resolution which authorised Gandhi to revamp the organisation.Khan added his intent behind writing the letter was to ensure a makeover of the party and there were no hopes for any personal gains. "The letter was not written for personal gains. It is because I believe Congress needs a makeover and it needs to be realigned with the nationalist identity. It is because of these reasons that I became ready to assume the responsibilities when the party is going through tough times," he said. Khan, however, said he did not blame Rahul for the defeat as "he left no stone unturned but the narrative of the Congress simply failed to connect with the people and they again went with Narendra Modi." He talked about luck stating that a change is needed to improve the chances of the oldest party in India and added, "No doubt a change is needed and if someone who is a better candidate than me, can also be given the role."

Olympian Aslam Sher Khan offers to replace Rahul Gandhi as Congress chief

In PM Narendra Modi's Kerala visit, his clothes have a message

Continuing his attack on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-kochi-will-visit-guruvayur-temple-in-thrissur-225348">prime minister</a> on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-president-rahul-gandhi-arrives-in-wayanad-for-three-day-visit-225247">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection.

On his first visit to his constituency after being elected to Lok Sabha, Gandhi addressed party workers at Kalpetta, Kambalakadu and Panamaram during a roadshow on Saturday.

A large number of Congress-led United Democratic Front workers and women thronged the route.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran were with Gandhi in his special vehicle.

Though it rained heavily in parts of the constituency Friday, the weather did not play spoilsport as it was bright and sunny till this noon. 
Gandhi said Modi "uses hatred, anger and lies" which are his "weapons".

He said his party will continue to fight the "worst sentiments" the prime minister represents.

"At the national level, we are fighting poison. Modi's campaign was filled with lies, poison, hatred and divided the people of the country. He used lies in the election... Congress stood for truth, love and affection," he said addressing the crowd at Kalpetta.

At Kambalakadu, Gandhi said there are big challenges in Wayanad which can be resolved by working together.

"My job is to represent all of Wayanad. People from all parties supported me in the election. There are big challenges and issues in Wayanad. We will work together and solve everything," he said.

Gandhi had contested the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad, in addition to his family bastion of Amethi, but lost to Union minister Smriti Irani in the Uttar Pradesh constituency. He won from Wayanad with a margin of about 4.31 lakh votes.

After the Congress party's poor show in the second consecutive general election, Gandhi had offered to resign as the Congress president, but it was rejected by the party's highest decision-making body.

Congress won 52 seats in the 2019 polls. However in Kerala, the only state besides Punjab and Tamil Nadu where it did well, the party and its allies won 19 out of 20 seats.

On Friday in Malappuram district, Gandhi said his party would emerge as a strong Opposition and defend the poor.

Attacking Modi, he said, "Modi may have money, he may have the media by his side, he may have rich friends. But the Congress will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP".

"The intolerance created by BJP and Modi will be dealt by the Congress party with love and affection," Gandhi added.

The Congress president is on a three-day visit to the constituency.&nbsp;

Continuing his attack on the prime minister on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection.

Continuing his attack on the prime minister on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection. On his first visit to his constituency after being elected to Lok Sabha, Gandhi addressed party workers at Kalpetta, Kambalakadu and Panamaram during a roadshow on Saturday. A large number of Congress-led United Democratic Front workers and women thronged the route. Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran were with Gandhi in his special vehicle. Though it rained heavily in parts of the constituency Friday, the weather did not play spoilsport as it was bright and sunny till this noon. Gandhi said Modi "uses hatred, anger and lies" which are his "weapons". He said his party will continue to fight the "worst sentiments" the prime minister represents. "At the national level, we are fighting poison. Modi's campaign was filled with lies, poison, hatred and divided the people of the country. He used lies in the election... Congress stood for truth, love and affection," he said addressing the crowd at Kalpetta. At Kambalakadu, Gandhi said there are big challenges in Wayanad which can be resolved by working together. "My job is to represent all of Wayanad. People from all parties supported me in the election. There are big challenges and issues in Wayanad. We will work together and solve everything," he said. Gandhi had contested the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad, in addition to his family bastion of Amethi, but lost to Union minister Smriti Irani in the Uttar Pradesh constituency. He won from Wayanad with a margin of about 4.31 lakh votes. After the Congress party's poor show in the second consecutive general election, Gandhi had offered to resign as the Congress president, but it was rejected by the party's highest decision-making body. Congress won 52 seats in the 2019 polls. However in Kerala, the only state besides Punjab and Tamil Nadu where it did well, the party and its allies won 19 out of 20 seats. On Friday in Malappuram district, Gandhi said his party would emerge as a strong Opposition and defend the poor. Attacking Modi, he said, "Modi may have money, he may have the media by his side, he may have rich friends. But the Congress will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP". "The intolerance created by BJP and Modi will be dealt by the Congress party with love and affection," Gandhi added. The Congress president is on a three-day visit to the constituency.

Modi's Lok Sabha poll campaign filled with 'lies, poison and hatred': Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/with-rahul-gandhi-firm-on-quitting-as-party-chief-congress-working-committee-to-meet-again-this-week-222138">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.

He will stay in his constituency till Sunday during which he will meet party workers and citizens.&nbsp;

"I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens and Congress Party workers. It`s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days," tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha.

On May 31, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to order an enquiry into the `suicide` of a debt-ridden farmer from Wayanad.

Gandhi also urged him to extend financial support to the family of the deceased.

Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency.&nbsp;

However, the Congress President lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency by BJP leader Smriti Irani.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon. This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon. This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls. He will stay in his constituency till Sunday during which he will meet party workers and citizens. "I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens and Congress Party workers. It`s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days," tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha. On May 31, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to order an enquiry into the `suicide` of a debt-ridden farmer from Wayanad. Gandhi also urged him to extend financial support to the family of the deceased. Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency. However, the Congress President lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency by BJP leader Smriti Irani.

Rahul Gandhi to visit his parliamentary constituency Wayanad today

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-reviewing-defeat-of-rahul-gandhi-in-amethi-223343">Congress President Rahul Gandhi</a> on Friday arrived at his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad for&nbsp;a three-day visit.

The&nbsp;visit comes after Gandhi won from Wayanad by a margin of over 4.31 lakh votes.

Earlier today, Gandhi tweeted, ''I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens &amp; Congress Party workers. It’s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days.''

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I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens &amp; Congress Party workers. It’s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days. <a href="https://t.co/1r71RsgI9X">pic.twitter.com/1r71RsgI9X</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1136821998724689920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Thousands of party workers and leaders were at the airport to receive Gandhi, who is attending a public function for the first time after the general elections.

The Congress president is scheduled to participate in at least 15 public receptions across the constituency.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at Kalikavu in Malappuram district in Kerala. Today, he begins his three-day visit to the state after Lok Sabha elections. <a href="https://t.co/e2tTizHIff">pic.twitter.com/e2tTizHIff</a>
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A senior Congress leader from the constituency told media&nbsp;that Gandhi's visit will boost the morale of the party workers to fight the Assembly bypolls.

"Rahul Gandhi will also take part in roadshows at Nilambur and Eranad," senior Congress leader and Wandoor MLA A P Anil Kumar said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday arrived at his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad for a three-day visit. The visit comes after Gandhi won from Wayanad by a margin of over 4.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday arrived at his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad for a three-day visit. The visit comes after Gandhi won from Wayanad by a margin of over 4.31 lakh votes. Earlier today, Gandhi tweeted, ''I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens & Congress Party workers. It’s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days.'' I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens & Congress Party workers. It’s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days. pic.twitter.com/1r71RsgI9X — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 7, 2019 × Thousands of party workers and leaders were at the airport to receive Gandhi, who is attending a public function for the first time after the general elections. The Congress president is scheduled to participate in at least 15 public receptions across the constituency. #WATCH Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at Kalikavu in Malappuram district in Kerala. Today, he begins his three-day visit to the state after Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/e2tTizHIff — ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2019 × A senior Congress leader from the constituency told media that Gandhi's visit will boost the morale of the party workers to fight the Assembly bypolls. "Rahul Gandhi will also take part in roadshows at Nilambur and Eranad," senior Congress leader and Wandoor MLA A P Anil Kumar said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives in Wayanad for three-day visit

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The Congress won just 52 of 542 parliamentary seats this time, its second worst performance since 2014 election. The party is three members short of the total that would qualify it for the post of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabh

Congress to meet 52 lawmakers today to elect new leader

The Congress, with a 52-seat tally in the 543-member Lok Sabha, is three members short of the total that would qualify it for the post of Leader of Opposition. Its poll campaign flopped miserably as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP won an even bigger majority than 2014

Congress Parliamentary party meeting; Likely to elect new President

Newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress will meet for the first time on Saturday and are likely to elect the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

The CPP is currently chaired by Sonia Gandhi and all 52 Lok Sabha MPs will be present at the meeting, besides its members in the Rajya Sabha, sources said.

The meeting will be held in the central hall of Parliament and MPs will also chalk out its strategy for the upcoming session of Parliament, they said.

In its first meeting after the constitution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Congress MPs are also likely to elect their leader in the Lower House, the sources said.

They said this will be the first official meeting that Congress president Rahul Gandhi will attend after the meeting of the party's working committee held on May 25, where he offered to quit as Congress chief.&nbsp;

The CWC has already rejected his offer to resign and unanimously passed a resolution authorising him to bring structural changes in the party at all levels in a bid to revamp it.&nbsp;

Newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress will meet for the first time on Saturday and are likely to elect the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

Newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress will meet for the first time on Saturday and are likely to elect the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP). The CPP is currently chaired by Sonia Gandhi and all 52 Lok Sabha MPs will be present at the meeting, besides its members in the Rajya Sabha, sources said. The meeting will be held in the central hall of Parliament and MPs will also chalk out its strategy for the upcoming session of Parliament, they said. In its first meeting after the constitution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Congress MPs are also likely to elect their leader in the Lower House, the sources said. They said this will be the first official meeting that Congress president Rahul Gandhi will attend after the meeting of the party's working committee held on May 25, where he offered to quit as Congress chief. The CWC has already rejected his offer to resign and unanimously passed a resolution authorising him to bring structural changes in the party at all levels in a bid to revamp it.

Congress Parliamentary Party to meet on Saturday, likely to elect leader

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said the Congress may have just 52 MPs in the Lok Sabha but they are strong enough to take on the BJP [which has 303 members]. Speaking at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting, Rahul Gandhi said, "We are 52 MPs. I guarantee you that these 52 MPs will fight against BJP every single inch. We are enough to make BJP jump everyday."

52 Congress Lok Sabha MPs enough to make BJP jump everyday, says Rahul Gandhi

Asserting that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/wont-stake-claim-in-lok-sabha-for-leader-of-opposition-congress-223378">52 newly-elected Congress MPs</a> will work like "a pride of brave-hearted lions", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that his party will continue to work "fearlessly" and that the BJP cannot have a "walk over" in parliament.

"The Congress Party may have just 52 Lok Sabha members but we will work together like a pride of brave-hearted lions to protect our Constitution and institutions and to fearlessly do our duty as the leading Opposition party. The BJP will have no walkover in Parliament," tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

Congress has secured a meagre 52 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the recent elections.

Watch: Sonia Gandhi elected as the leader of Congress Parliamentary Party

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Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress'&nbsp;ideological battle with the BJP will continue.

"Every Congress member must remember that each one of you is fighting for the Constitution, for every person in India irrespective of the colour of his skin or belief," Rahul was quoted as saying by party spokesperson Rajdeep Singh Surjewala.

At a meeting of the Congress Working Committee last week, Rahul had last week offered to resign from the post of Congress President accepting responsibility for the defeat in the elections but CWC has rejected it.

Asserting that the 52 newly-elected Congress MPs will work like "a pride of brave-hearted lions", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that his party will continue to work "fearlessly" and that the BJP cannot have a "walk over" in parliament.

Asserting that the 52 newly-elected Congress MPs will work like "a pride of brave-hearted lions", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that his party will continue to work "fearlessly" and that the BJP cannot have a "walk over" in parliament. "The Congress Party may have just 52 Lok Sabha members but we will work together like a pride of brave-hearted lions to protect our Constitution and institutions and to fearlessly do our duty as the leading Opposition party. The BJP will have no walkover in Parliament," tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Congress has secured a meagre 52 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the recent elections. Watch: Sonia Gandhi elected as the leader of Congress Parliamentary Party Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress' ideological battle with the BJP will continue. "Every Congress member must remember that each one of you is fighting for the Constitution, for every person in India irrespective of the colour of his skin or belief," Rahul was quoted as saying by party spokesperson Rajdeep Singh Surjewala. At a meeting of the Congress Working Committee last week, Rahul had last week offered to resign from the post of Congress President accepting responsibility for the defeat in the elections but CWC has rejected it.

BJP will have no walkover in Parliament: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress is reviewing the defeat of its president Rahul Gandhi in the party stronghold of Amethi in the Lok Sabha elections, a party leader said Tuesday.

Zubair Khan, who looks after the political work of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Kishori Lal Sharma, the representative of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been camping here for the last three days to deliberate upon the possible reasons for Gandhi's defeat.

UP Congress Committee member Rajiv Singh said, "The review will take place even at the village level. The members of the review team will hold meetings with heads of blocks and panchayat."

Union minister Smriti Irani had defeated Gandhi with a margin of 55,120 votes, following which Amethi Congress Committee president Yogendra Mishra had tendered his resignation.

Congress leader Dharmendra Shukla had written a letter to Gandhi saying his representative Chandrakant Dubey was responsible for the defeat and demanded a probe into it, a party leader said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Congress is reviewing the defeat of its president Rahul Gandhi in the party stronghold of Amethi in the Lok Sabha elections, a party leader said Tuesday. Zubair Khan, who looks after the political work of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Kishori Lal Sharma, the representative of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been camping here for the last three days to deliberate upon the possible reasons for Gandhi's defeat.

The Congress is reviewing the defeat of its president Rahul Gandhi in the party stronghold of Amethi in the Lok Sabha elections, a party leader said Tuesday. Zubair Khan, who looks after the political work of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Kishori Lal Sharma, the representative of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, have been camping here for the last three days to deliberate upon the possible reasons for Gandhi's defeat. UP Congress Committee member Rajiv Singh said, "The review will take place even at the village level. The members of the review team will hold meetings with heads of blocks and panchayat." Union minister Smriti Irani had defeated Gandhi with a margin of 55,120 votes, following which Amethi Congress Committee president Yogendra Mishra had tendered his resignation. Congress leader Dharmendra Shukla had written a letter to Gandhi saying his representative Chandrakant Dubey was responsible for the defeat and demanded a probe into it, a party leader said.

Congress reviewing defeat of Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

Sonia Gandhi has been chosen the chairperson of the Congress's elected parliamentarians at the meeting of the party's parliamentary committee this morning. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh proposed her name.

Sonia Gandhi elected as the leader of Congress Parliamentary Party

Smriti Irani Takes oath as Cabinet Minister and she defeated Rahul Gandhi and won from Amethi

Gravitas: Smriti Irani Takes oath as Cabinet Minister

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sent a team to Amethi to find out the reason for his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/the-fall-of-amethi-why-did-rahul-gandhi-lose-congress-stronghold-221658">shocking defeat to BJP leader Smriti Irani</a> from the parliamentary constituency which was considered a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

The team comprises of AICC secretary Zubair Khan and Congress'&nbsp;Raebareli in-charge KL Sharma.

Both the leaders have been asked to give a report for the reason for the loss, said a senior party functionary from Amethi.

Sharma was looking after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/had-ensured-that-the-mp-from-amethi-would-be-chosen-from-our-party-smriti-irani-to-wion-221599">Amethi Lok Sabha seat</a> till 2009 when he was replaced by Chandrakant, a party worker from Madhya Pradesh.

He now manages Raebareli parliamentary seat, which is UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's constituency.

In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, Rahul lost to Irani by over 55,000 votes from Amethi seat.&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sent a team to Amethi to find out the reason for his shocking defeat to BJP leader Smriti Irani from the parliamentary constituency which was considered a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sent a team to Amethi to find out the reason for his shocking defeat to BJP leader Smriti Irani from the parliamentary constituency which was considered a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The team comprises of AICC secretary Zubair Khan and Congress' Raebareli in-charge KL Sharma. Both the leaders have been asked to give a report for the reason for the loss, said a senior party functionary from Amethi. Sharma was looking after Amethi Lok Sabha seat till 2009 when he was replaced by Chandrakant, a party worker from Madhya Pradesh. He now manages Raebareli parliamentary seat, which is UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's constituency. In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, Rahul lost to Irani by over 55,000 votes from Amethi seat.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Rahul Gandhi sends team to Amethi to ascertain cause of defeat

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-sends-team-to-amethi-to-ascertain-cause-of-defeat-223019">Congress president</a> and newly elected MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi will pay a two-day visit to his constituency from June 7 to thank the voters.

Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, tweeted in Malayalam saying, "I honour the decision of the people of the country. I congratulate all the winners. I wish to thank all the people of Wayanad who have chosen me as your representative. I also extend my thanks to each and every Congress worker for their hard work and efforts in this election."

Gandhi won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency.&nbsp;

Congress president and newly elected MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi will pay a two-day visit to his constituency from June 7 to thank the voters. Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha.

Congress president and newly elected MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi will pay a two-day visit to his constituency from June 7 to thank the voters. Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, tweeted in Malayalam saying, "I honour the decision of the people of the country. I congratulate all the winners. I wish to thank all the people of Wayanad who have chosen me as your representative. I also extend my thanks to each and every Congress worker for their hard work and efforts in this election." Gandhi won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency.

Rahul Gandhi to pay 2-day visit to Wayanad from June 7

The 2019 Lok Sabha election results are out. The incumbent government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has trounced a motley group of splintered Opposition or whatever in the name of Opposition. The entire nation rose to vote for development and prosperity alone in unison. I behold mainly two pillars of the grand victory on a solid foundation laid down by Dr KB Hedgewar.&nbsp;

I must first address the issue as to why I address Dr Hedgewar as the greatest visionary of 20th century. The concept of Hindu unity never existed anywhere in the country, anywhere in Sanatana scriptures or in intellectualism of any variety anytime in past to the best of my knowledge. Hindus continued to be traumatised for centuries first by invaders then by our own people influenced by variety of ideologies smuggled into the country by invaders.

As a young Congressman, Dr Hedgewar was deeply disturbed to observe that nobody, absolutely nobody had even an inkling of inclination to worry about the security of Hindus while they all rushed whenever non-Hindus were in slightest of trouble. He had lot of hopes from Congress in this regard which were dashed soon, and Dr Hedgewar walked out of the Congress in disgust. He resolved to constitute an organisation to address the issue in terms of human resource development, to raise a well-knit, well-organised vibrant community of Hindus imbued with Sanatana values and nationalism bang at the grass-root level.

The RSS was founded in 1925 though it took almost 80 years to attain critical mass and a mighty voice to reckon with. Meanwhile Congress continued with their anti-Hindu / anti-national policies behind the subterfuge of secularism / unity in diversity / inclusivity concurrently plundering national wealth and stashing that abroad.

Owing to human awakening activities of RSS, masses all over the nation started realising how were they being hoodwinked and fleeced hitherto on all fronts and they must gear up to reverse their destiny.

This realisation is best exemplified by Smriti Irani who unravelled the utter lack of development in VIP constituencies like Amethi, lorded over by Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra Dynasty for decades. The exposure turned out to be so pathetic that it stunned the nation. Suddenly, the expose assumed national dimensions and people in the country realised, entire country was shabbily treated like Amethi / Rae Bareli for seven decades, post-1947. Serial exposes climaxed by Smriti Irani in Amethi constitute one of the two important pillars of the historic mandate. &nbsp;

When Narendra Modi appeared on nation's political horizon as chief minister of Gujarat and details of his outstanding performance began diffusing around, people started yearning for replication of all that at national level. Overcoming all odds and entry-barriers raised by the malevolent contriving Opposition, he gathered absolute majority in Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections, after a gap of three decades. With the absolute majority so attained in Parliament, Narendra Modi went on a massive spree of development schemes to deliver social equity right in hands and palms of those who deserved it in every nook and corner of the nation irrespective of distance from New Delhi, entirely devoid of middlemen.

In fact, he had transcended the 'Khan Market Gang' and the 'Lutyens Looters' right when he was Gujarat Chief Minister itself. The Opposition consistently believed the 2014 mandate was a fluke and persisted raising high octane hue and cry on flimsy issues in the fond hope of voters pressing Congress button in EVMs, unable to see the right button thick in dust kicked up like the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. They failed to read between lines of PM Modi's statements, "65 per cent population of the country is below 35 years of age", insinuating at the urgency of paradigm shift in national perspectives required. The Opposition refused to heed to it, persisted with the adherence to the same old 'Garibi Hatao' mindset and landed with disastrous electoral defeat.

Unfortunately for them, the 2019 mandate turned out to be so decisive that they are now stunned and shaken to the core, worried about their existence. It is this, thunderous nature of mandate that established beyond an iota of doubt, social equity was indeed delivered in right palms, crores of citizens started dreaming of prosperity, development as the sole objective of politics and politics with impeccable integrity is indeed, possible and attainable.&nbsp;

With those historic developments in the background, the massive mandate of the 2019 Lok Sabha election was certainly inevitable. When social equity and development are genuinely assured, vices like Naxalism / Marxism / anti-nationalism gradually fade away into oblivion. This election is not only a harbinger of prosperity for all but also evolutionary transition into a new Bharat altogether, whose forehead is smeared with sandalwood while head raised high in self-esteem, a redefined nation that blends Vedic wisdom with robotics, ancient art and culture with newer horizons, every citizen as an embodiment of a composite nation, justice for all and appeasement for none.

For the Opposition, they do not appear to be talented enough to evolve, loaded with a very heavy baggage of evil deeds. The nation now requires a sparkling bright brand new Opposition, possibly genuinely centrist in ideological disposition endowed with impeccable nationalism and unimpeachable integrity. That will be a watershed development in Bharatiya politics.

This mandate has already determined course of events for the nation for next five decades or so. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The Zee News. Read the <a href="https://zeenews.india.com/blogs/2019-election-mandate-has-decided-the-nations-course-for-next-50-years-2207493.html">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

The 2019 Lok Sabha election results are out. The incumbent government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has trounced a motley group of splintered Opposition or whatever in the name of Opposition.

The 2019 Lok Sabha election results are out. The incumbent government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has trounced a motley group of splintered Opposition or whatever in the name of Opposition. The entire nation rose to vote for development and prosperity alone in unison. I behold mainly two pillars of the grand victory on a solid foundation laid down by Dr KB Hedgewar. I must first address the issue as to why I address Dr Hedgewar as the greatest visionary of 20th century. The concept of Hindu unity never existed anywhere in the country, anywhere in Sanatana scriptures or in intellectualism of any variety anytime in past to the best of my knowledge. Hindus continued to be traumatised for centuries first by invaders then by our own people influenced by variety of ideologies smuggled into the country by invaders. As a young Congressman, Dr Hedgewar was deeply disturbed to observe that nobody, absolutely nobody had even an inkling of inclination to worry about the security of Hindus while they all rushed whenever non-Hindus were in slightest of trouble. He had lot of hopes from Congress in this regard which were dashed soon, and Dr Hedgewar walked out of the Congress in disgust. He resolved to constitute an organisation to address the issue in terms of human resource development, to raise a well-knit, well-organised vibrant community of Hindus imbued with Sanatana values and nationalism bang at the grass-root level. The RSS was founded in 1925 though it took almost 80 years to attain critical mass and a mighty voice to reckon with. Meanwhile Congress continued with their anti-Hindu / anti-national policies behind the subterfuge of secularism / unity in diversity / inclusivity concurrently plundering national wealth and stashing that abroad. Owing to human awakening activities of RSS, masses all over the nation started realising how were they being hoodwinked and fleeced hitherto on all fronts and they must gear up to reverse their destiny. This realisation is best exemplified by Smriti Irani who unravelled the utter lack of development in VIP constituencies like Amethi, lorded over by Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra Dynasty for decades. The exposure turned out to be so pathetic that it stunned the nation. Suddenly, the expose assumed national dimensions and people in the country realised, entire country was shabbily treated like Amethi / Rae Bareli for seven decades, post-1947. Serial exposes climaxed by Smriti Irani in Amethi constitute one of the two important pillars of the historic mandate. When Narendra Modi appeared on nation's political horizon as chief minister of Gujarat and details of his outstanding performance began diffusing around, people started yearning for replication of all that at national level. Overcoming all odds and entry-barriers raised by the malevolent contriving Opposition, he gathered absolute majority in Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections, after a gap of three decades. With the absolute majority so attained in Parliament, Narendra Modi went on a massive spree of development schemes to deliver social equity right in hands and palms of those who deserved it in every nook and corner of the nation irrespective of distance from New Delhi, entirely devoid of middlemen. In fact, he had transcended the 'Khan Market Gang' and the 'Lutyens Looters' right when he was Gujarat Chief Minister itself. The Opposition consistently believed the 2014 mandate was a fluke and persisted raising high octane hue and cry on flimsy issues in the fond hope of voters pressing Congress button in EVMs, unable to see the right button thick in dust kicked up like the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. They failed to read between lines of PM Modi's statements, "65 per cent population of the country is below 35 years of age", insinuating at the urgency of paradigm shift in national perspectives required. The Opposition refused to heed to it, persisted with the adherence to the same old 'Garibi Hatao' mindset and landed with disastrous electoral defeat. Unfortunately for them, the 2019 mandate turned out to be so decisive that they are now stunned and shaken to the core, worried about their existence. It is this, thunderous nature of mandate that established beyond an iota of doubt, social equity was indeed delivered in right palms, crores of citizens started dreaming of prosperity, development as the sole objective of politics and politics with impeccable integrity is indeed, possible and attainable. With those historic developments in the background, the massive mandate of the 2019 Lok Sabha election was certainly inevitable. When social equity and development are genuinely assured, vices like Naxalism / Marxism / anti-nationalism gradually fade away into oblivion. This election is not only a harbinger of prosperity for all but also evolutionary transition into a new Bharat altogether, whose forehead is smeared with sandalwood while head raised high in self-esteem, a redefined nation that blends Vedic wisdom with robotics, ancient art and culture with newer horizons, every citizen as an embodiment of a composite nation, justice for all and appeasement for none. For the Opposition, they do not appear to be talented enough to evolve, loaded with a very heavy baggage of evil deeds. The nation now requires a sparkling bright brand new Opposition, possibly genuinely centrist in ideological disposition endowed with impeccable nationalism and unimpeachable integrity. That will be a watershed development in Bharatiya politics. This mandate has already determined course of events for the nation for next five decades or so. (This article was originally published on The Zee News. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

2019 Lok Sabha election mandate has decided the nation's course for the next 50 years

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi will attend Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bimstec-leaders-invited-for-modis-swearing-in-ceremony-222056">Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony</a>&nbsp;for the second term on May 30.

The ceremony will be a grand event with the presence of many world leaders, politicians and celebrities. It will take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7pm.

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi to also attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/lpb1mwi8MR">https://t.co/lpb1mwi8MR</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1133725096596557824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority with 303 seats, which is 22 more than its 2014 tally. Along with its allies, the NDA stands at 352 in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president

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At the same time, Congress suffered a crushing defeat and since then the party is in existential crisis. Many ministers have quit the party over their failure in the Lok Sabha elections.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-workers-gather-outside-rahul-gandhis-residence-urging-him-not-to-resign-222563">Congress president had offered to step down</a> from the party post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held last Saturday, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

However, Rahul's offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony for the second term on May 30. The ceremony will be a grand event with the presence of many world leaders, politicians and celebrities.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony for the second term on May 30. The ceremony will be a grand event with the presence of many world leaders, politicians and celebrities. It will take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7pm. Congress President Rahul Gandhi to also attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony tomorrow. https://t.co/lpb1mwi8MR — ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019 × Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority with 303 seats, which is 22 more than its 2014 tally. Along with its allies, the NDA stands at 352 in the 17th Lok Sabha. Watch: Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president At the same time, Congress suffered a crushing defeat and since then the party is in existential crisis. Many ministers have quit the party over their failure in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress president had offered to step down from the party post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held last Saturday, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. However, Rahul's offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

Rahul, Sonia Gandhi to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote.

In 2019, the fortunes reversed and she emerge victorious against Gandhi, hence earning the moniker 'giant slayer'.

The win was rewarded by her party with a ministerial berth. She took oath as a minister on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan&nbsp;where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-updates-prime-minister-narendra-modi-swearing-in-ceremony-222770">Narendra Modi took an oath for the second inning</a>s as Prime Minister.

Her portfolio has not yet been decided. In the last tenure of Modi government, Irani served as Information and&nbsp;Broadcasting, Textiles and HRD minister.

From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani has come a long way. She was inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in 2014 too representing a crowning glory in her political career.

Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, Irani continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles - against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014 and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004.

Irani has earlier served as national president of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing.

She was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before shifting to Mumbai wher she became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote.

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote. In 2019, the fortunes reversed and she emerge victorious against Gandhi, hence earning the moniker 'giant slayer'. The win was rewarded by her party with a ministerial berth. She took oath as a minister on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where Narendra Modi took an oath for the second innings as Prime Minister. Her portfolio has not yet been decided. In the last tenure of Modi government, Irani served as Information and Broadcasting, Textiles and HRD minister. From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani has come a long way. She was inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in 2014 too representing a crowning glory in her political career. Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, Irani continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles - against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014 and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004. Irani has earlier served as national president of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing. She was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before shifting to Mumbai wher she became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.

Smriti Irani becomes part of Team Modi 2.0, takes oath as minister

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/rahul-gandhi-not-ready-to-withdraw-his-resignation-congress-leader-tarun-gogoi-222697">Congress President Rahul Gandhi</a> on Thursday met NCP leader Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation with him.

Gandhi, who has been insisting on resigning as Congress chief after the Lok Sabha polls debacle, drove to Pawar's residence and spent nearly an hour with him where it is learnt that the NCP chief also told him to continue as party chief.

Details of the meeting were not immediately available.

Pawar was in the Congress before he floated the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999. NCP is part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met Rahul Gandhi at his residence, where Sonia Gandhi was also present. Kumaraswamy urged Rahul Gandhi not to quit as party chief.

Meanwhile, party senior leader Ahmed Patel met Mallikarjun Kharge at the AICC headquarters and later met former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met NCP leader Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation with him.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met NCP leader Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation with him. Gandhi, who has been insisting on resigning as Congress chief after the Lok Sabha polls debacle, drove to Pawar's residence and spent nearly an hour with him where it is learnt that the NCP chief also told him to continue as party chief. Details of the meeting were not immediately available. Pawar was in the Congress before he floated the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999. NCP is part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met Rahul Gandhi at his residence, where Sonia Gandhi was also present. Kumaraswamy urged Rahul Gandhi not to quit as party chief. Meanwhile, party senior leader Ahmed Patel met Mallikarjun Kharge at the AICC headquarters and later met former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi meets NCP leader Sharad Pawar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ys-jagan-mohan-reddy-sworn-in-as-andhra-pradesh-chief-minister-222681">newly-appointed Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh</a> YS Jaganmohan Reddy.&nbsp;

"Congratulations to @ysjagan on taking oath as Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister. I assure full cooperation from the Centre. We will work together to take Andhra Pradesh to new heights," PM Modi tweeted.

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Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/ysjagan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ysjagan</a> on taking oath as Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister. I assure full cooperation from the Centre. We will work together to take Andhra Pradesh to new heights.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1134020002477031424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi also gave his best wishes to Reddy.

"Congratulations to Jagan Reddyji on being sworn in as the CM of Andhra Pradesh. My best wishes to him, his new team of ministers and to all the people of the state," Gandhi tweeted.&nbsp;

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Congratulations to Jagan Reddyji on being sworn in as the CM of Andhra Pradesh. 
 
My best wishes to him, his new team of ministers and to all the people of the state.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1133997697755537409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Reddy was sworn in as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh at Indira Gandhi Municipal stadium in Vijayawada earlier today.

Around 30,000 people attended the ceremony at the IGMC Stadium and the Krishna district administration had made elaborate security arrangements with 5,000 police personnel deployed at the venue.&nbsp;

PM Modi will take oath for his second term today at 7pm at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated newly-appointed Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jaganmohan Reddy. "Congratulations to @ysjagan on taking oath as Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated newly-appointed Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jaganmohan Reddy. "Congratulations to @ysjagan on taking oath as Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister. I assure full cooperation from the Centre. We will work together to take Andhra Pradesh to new heights," PM Modi tweeted. Congratulations to @ysjagan on taking oath as Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister. I assure full cooperation from the Centre. We will work together to take Andhra Pradesh to new heights. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 30, 2019 × Congress President Rahul Gandhi also gave his best wishes to Reddy. "Congratulations to Jagan Reddyji on being sworn in as the CM of Andhra Pradesh. My best wishes to him, his new team of ministers and to all the people of the state," Gandhi tweeted. Congratulations to Jagan Reddyji on being sworn in as the CM of Andhra Pradesh. My best wishes to him, his new team of ministers and to all the people of the state. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 30, 2019 × Reddy was sworn in as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh at Indira Gandhi Municipal stadium in Vijayawada earlier today. Around 30,000 people attended the ceremony at the IGMC Stadium and the Krishna district administration had made elaborate security arrangements with 5,000 police personnel deployed at the venue. PM Modi will take oath for his second term today at 7pm at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi congratulates new Andhra Pradesh CM Jaganmohan Reddy

Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that party president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-workers-gather-outside-rahul-gandhis-residence-urging-him-not-to-resign-222563">Rahul Gandhi is sticking to his decision to resign</a> from the post.

"We want Rahul to continue as Congress president. But he is insisting that he will not continue as party president anymore. All members of the working committee are unanimously saying that we will not accept Rahul's resignation. We asked him to withdraw his resignation but he did not do it," Gogoi told ANI.

"In a democracy, a strong opposition is needed. Who will become a strong opposition? There is only one party Congress and Rahul has the capability to lead the party with his pan-India image," he said.

The Congress leader said that Rahul has stated that he will help the next party president.

"Rahul said he will continue till next president is chosen... He said he will fight the ideological battle with BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. He said that he will help the next Congress president," according to Gogoi.

On May 25, Rahul had offered to step down from the post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, taking moral responsibility for the party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

His resignation was rejected "unanimously" by the CWC members who authorised him to do a complete overhaul and restructuring of the party at every level.

The Congress president, who won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, lost to BJP`s Smriti Irani from Amethi parliamentary constituency which was considered a stronghold of the party.&nbsp;

Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that party president Rahul Gandhi is sticking to his decision to resign from the post.

Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Thursday said that party president Rahul Gandhi is sticking to his decision to resign from the post. "We want Rahul to continue as Congress president. But he is insisting that he will not continue as party president anymore. All members of the working committee are unanimously saying that we will not accept Rahul's resignation. We asked him to withdraw his resignation but he did not do it," Gogoi told ANI. "In a democracy, a strong opposition is needed. Who will become a strong opposition? There is only one party Congress and Rahul has the capability to lead the party with his pan-India image," he said. The Congress leader said that Rahul has stated that he will help the next party president. "Rahul said he will continue till next president is chosen... He said he will fight the ideological battle with BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. He said that he will help the next Congress president," according to Gogoi. On May 25, Rahul had offered to step down from the post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, taking moral responsibility for the party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. His resignation was rejected "unanimously" by the CWC members who authorised him to do a complete overhaul and restructuring of the party at every level. The Congress president, who won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, lost to BJP`s Smriti Irani from Amethi parliamentary constituency which was considered a stronghold of the party.

Rahul Gandhi not ready to withdraw his resignation: Congress leader Tarun Gogoi

Urging people not to indulge in speculation, Congress on Tuesday said the Congress Working Committee <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-refuses-to-meet-senior-leaders-remains-adamant-on-his-decision-to-step-down-as-congress-chief-222324">(CWC) has rejected Rahul Gandhi's resignation</a> from the party president's post and that "is the only realty".

"I don't think we should speculate. CWC has already explained that Rahul is not resigning... And it should rest there and we should not speculate. Let's not indulge in any speculation," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.

When a media person said that Rahul had rejected the resolution, Khera dismissed it saying, "Maybe you know better than me."

Rahul had offered to step down from the party post at the CWC meeting held last Saturday, taking moral responsibility for Congress'&nbsp;dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Watch: Rahul insists on resigning; CWC to hold another meeting

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However, Rahul's offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

Sources said that despite senior leaders making serious attempts to convince him to rethink his decision, Rahul is unfazed.

Earlier in the day Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot arrived at Rahul`s residence.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and party general secretary in-charge KC Venugopal were also present at his residence.

Along with Congress leaders, UPA ally DMK too batted for the continuance of Rahul as the party president.

Earlier in the day, DMK chief MK Stalin telephoned Rahul and urged him to continue in the post.

Urging people not to indulge in speculation, Congress on Tuesday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has rejected Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the party president's post and that "is the only realty".

Urging people not to indulge in speculation, Congress on Tuesday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has rejected Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the party president's post and that "is the only realty". "I don't think we should speculate. CWC has already explained that Rahul is not resigning... And it should rest there and we should not speculate. Let's not indulge in any speculation," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera. When a media person said that Rahul had rejected the resolution, Khera dismissed it saying, "Maybe you know better than me." Rahul had offered to step down from the party post at the CWC meeting held last Saturday, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Watch: Rahul insists on resigning; CWC to hold another meeting However, Rahul's offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC. Sources said that despite senior leaders making serious attempts to convince him to rethink his decision, Rahul is unfazed. Earlier in the day Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot arrived at Rahul`s residence. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and party general secretary in-charge KC Venugopal were also present at his residence. Along with Congress leaders, UPA ally DMK too batted for the continuance of Rahul as the party president. Earlier in the day, DMK chief MK Stalin telephoned Rahul and urged him to continue in the post.

Let's not indulge in speculation: Congress on Rahul Gandhi's resignation

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) working president Jayakumar on Tuesday asserted that the mandate received by Congress and its allies in South India is a testimony of people's faith in party president Rahul Gandhi and hence, he must not resign respecting their faith.

He also informed that they will pass a resolution urging the Congress president to continue on the post.

Speaking to ANI, Jayakumar said, "Though Rahul ji's name was not announced for the post of Prime Minister, our largest ally DMK leader Stalin clearly said that we are going to seek votes in the name of Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister. People have handsomely voted for us and we all won with a large margin in the state. It is a clear indication that people accepted Rahul Gandhi even as Prime Minister of the country."

He, however, refused to comment on the party's abysmal performance in other parts of the country, while indicating that the party's performance in the state that they won in December seems hard to believe.

"In North what has happened I don`t want to get into it. We formed government in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. In these states suddenly over few months time, people`s heart and mind changed and they voted en-mass for something else, it looks very ridiculous to me", said Jayakumar.

The newly elected MP also asserted that they will be passing a resolution requesting Congress president to take back his resignation.

Jayakumar said, "I don`t accept this kind of situation from Southern side, people have voted for us en masse and they have accepted Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Therefore we cannot go and stand in front of people that our leader has resigned because some performance is bad in some part of the country. Tomorrow we are going to pass a resolution to say that Rahul should stand and lead the party. We will come with the resolution and come and meet Rahul Gandhi."

On being asked whether most Congress MP's being from South have any kind of impact, he said, "Definitely Congress party is strong in the South and it must be recognised and regarded."

A few days back on May 25, P Chidambaram got emotional while appealing to Gandhi not to step down from his post, claiming that the party`s cadres in the southern states will commit suicide.

During the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, all leaders urged Gandhi to continue as the party president, even as Rahul remained firm on his decision to resign, sources said.

Addressing media after the CWC meeting, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rahul has been authorised to restructure the party following its dismal performance in the recently held general elections.

When party leaders asked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene and dissuade Rahul from resigning, she said it was up to Rahul to decide whether to step down or not, sources added.

However, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was of the view that no decision should be taken in haste. She, sources claimed, also said if Rahul decides to resign, it would mean that he fell into BJP's trap.

While the newly-elected Wayanad MP expressed his intent to discontinue as the party president, sources said he asserted that he would continue to fight for Congress'&nbsp;ideology and work for the party.

When the 48-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family remained adamant on discontinuing as the party president, the CWC leaders rose to oppose his offer stating that he was not the one to be blamed for the party's drubbing.&nbsp;

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) working president Jayakumar on Tuesday asserted that the mandate received by Congress and its allies in South India is a testimony of people's faith in party president Rahul Gandhi and hence, he must not resign respecting their faith.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) working president Jayakumar on Tuesday asserted that the mandate received by Congress and its allies in South India is a testimony of people's faith in party president Rahul Gandhi and hence, he must not resign respecting their faith. He also informed that they will pass a resolution urging the Congress president to continue on the post. Speaking to ANI, Jayakumar said, "Though Rahul ji's name was not announced for the post of Prime Minister, our largest ally DMK leader Stalin clearly said that we are going to seek votes in the name of Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister. People have handsomely voted for us and we all won with a large margin in the state. It is a clear indication that people accepted Rahul Gandhi even as Prime Minister of the country." He, however, refused to comment on the party's abysmal performance in other parts of the country, while indicating that the party's performance in the state that they won in December seems hard to believe. "In North what has happened I don`t want to get into it. We formed government in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. In these states suddenly over few months time, people`s heart and mind changed and they voted en-mass for something else, it looks very ridiculous to me", said Jayakumar. The newly elected MP also asserted that they will be passing a resolution requesting Congress president to take back his resignation. Jayakumar said, "I don`t accept this kind of situation from Southern side, people have voted for us en masse and they have accepted Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Therefore we cannot go and stand in front of people that our leader has resigned because some performance is bad in some part of the country. Tomorrow we are going to pass a resolution to say that Rahul should stand and lead the party. We will come with the resolution and come and meet Rahul Gandhi." On being asked whether most Congress MP's being from South have any kind of impact, he said, "Definitely Congress party is strong in the South and it must be recognised and regarded." A few days back on May 25, P Chidambaram got emotional while appealing to Gandhi not to step down from his post, claiming that the party`s cadres in the southern states will commit suicide. During the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, all leaders urged Gandhi to continue as the party president, even as Rahul remained firm on his decision to resign, sources said. Addressing media after the CWC meeting, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rahul has been authorised to restructure the party following its dismal performance in the recently held general elections. When party leaders asked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene and dissuade Rahul from resigning, she said it was up to Rahul to decide whether to step down or not, sources added. However, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was of the view that no decision should be taken in haste. She, sources claimed, also said if Rahul decides to resign, it would mean that he fell into BJP's trap. While the newly-elected Wayanad MP expressed his intent to discontinue as the party president, sources said he asserted that he would continue to fight for Congress' ideology and work for the party. When the 48-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family remained adamant on discontinuing as the party president, the CWC leaders rose to oppose his offer stating that he was not the one to be blamed for the party's drubbing.

South India voted on Rahul Gandhi's name: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president

Congress workers gathered outside party chief Rahul Gandhi's residence on Wednesday urging him to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lets-not-indulge-in-speculation-congress-on-rahul-gandhis-resignation-222433">withdraw his offer to resign</a>.

Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit visited Gandhi's Tughlak Lane residence. After coming out, she remained silent on whether she was able to meet the Gandhi scion.&nbsp;

Sources said she could not meet Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

A close aide of the Delhi Congress chief said Dikshit left a message for the Congress president in which she asked Gandhi to withdraw his offer to resign.

"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-refuses-to-meet-senior-leaders-remains-adamant-on-his-decision-to-step-down-as-congress-chief-222324">Gandhi is not meeting any party leaders</a>. So, Dikshit left her message urging Gandhi to reconsider his decision in the interest of the party with K Raju, a confidante of the party chief," the close aide added.

Boxer Vijender Singh, who had fought the Lok Sabha polls from the South Delhi constituency and ended up at the third spot said workers do not want Rahul Gandhi to resign as he is an "able and hardworking" leader.

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi obdurate on stepping down as Congress Prez

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"He has not resigned. We have come to talk to him. He has made an offer to resign but people do not want him to go.&nbsp;He has worked hard. If the results are not in our favour, it hurts but we are fighters. Nobody else can work like him. He is a leader who takes everyone together," Singh said.

Slogans of 'Rahulji, we are with you' and 'Please do not resign' rang through the air. Several workers were carrying placards with Gandhi's photos urging him not to resign.

Some workers were even demanding that elections be held again in a fair manner with ballot papers instead of EVMs since the latter could have tampered.

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler said there are millions of Congress workers who do not want Gandhi to resign.

"We had to be here because we do not want him to resign. There are millions of Congress workers who do not want him to resign. We are disappointed with the results but not with the leadership," he said.&nbsp;

The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing with Gandhi sticking to his decision to resign as party chief after its Lok Sabha poll debacle and staying away from meeting party leaders.

On Tuesday, Gandhi had only met his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, besides senior party leader K C Venugopal and the Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot went to meet Gandhi at his Tughlaq Lane residence on Tuesday, but they only met Priyanka.

Senior Congress leaders have been pressing Gandhi to take back his decision to resign and revamp the party at all levels in these challenging times.

Congress workers gathered outside party chief Rahul Gandhi's residence on Wednesday urging him to withdraw his offer to resign. Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit visited Gandhi's Tughlak Lane residence.

Congress workers gathered outside party chief Rahul Gandhi's residence on Wednesday urging him to withdraw his offer to resign. Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit visited Gandhi's Tughlak Lane residence. After coming out, she remained silent on whether she was able to meet the Gandhi scion. Sources said she could not meet Rahul Gandhi. A close aide of the Delhi Congress chief said Dikshit left a message for the Congress president in which she asked Gandhi to withdraw his offer to resign. "Gandhi is not meeting any party leaders. So, Dikshit left her message urging Gandhi to reconsider his decision in the interest of the party with K Raju, a confidante of the party chief," the close aide added. Boxer Vijender Singh, who had fought the Lok Sabha polls from the South Delhi constituency and ended up at the third spot said workers do not want Rahul Gandhi to resign as he is an "able and hardworking" leader. Watch: Rahul Gandhi obdurate on stepping down as Congress Prez "He has not resigned. We have come to talk to him. He has made an offer to resign but people do not want him to go. He has worked hard. If the results are not in our favour, it hurts but we are fighters. Nobody else can work like him. He is a leader who takes everyone together," Singh said. Slogans of 'Rahulji, we are with you' and 'Please do not resign' rang through the air. Several workers were carrying placards with Gandhi's photos urging him not to resign. Some workers were even demanding that elections be held again in a fair manner with ballot papers instead of EVMs since the latter could have tampered. Congress leader Jagdish Tytler said there are millions of Congress workers who do not want Gandhi to resign. "We had to be here because we do not want him to resign. There are millions of Congress workers who do not want him to resign. We are disappointed with the results but not with the leadership," he said. The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing with Gandhi sticking to his decision to resign as party chief after its Lok Sabha poll debacle and staying away from meeting party leaders. On Tuesday, Gandhi had only met his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, besides senior party leader K C Venugopal and the Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot went to meet Gandhi at his Tughlaq Lane residence on Tuesday, but they only met Priyanka. Senior Congress leaders have been pressing Gandhi to take back his decision to resign and revamp the party at all levels in these challenging times.

Congress workers gather outside Rahul Gandhi's residence urging him not to resign

The massive mandate of BJP sweeps away whole opposition in a blow. The nation's oldest party is feeling the heat as Congress President Rahul gandhi insists of resigning from the position. The party is under great depression, dilemma and before coming to any decisions holding various meeting for the same.

Rahul insists on resigning as Cong President; CWC to hold another meeting

The Congress party will be holding another Working Committee meeting this week to discuss the leadership issue&nbsp;amid reports of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/disquiet-in-congress-ranks-as-rahul-gandhi-insists-on-resigning-fate-of-rajasthan-and-karnataka-governments-uncertain-222058">Rahul Gandhi not ready to take back his resignation</a> as the party chief.&nbsp;

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior party leaders have been trying to make Rahul change his mind from exiting the post.&nbsp;

Party treasurer Ahmed Patel and organisational general secretary KC Venugopal met with Gandhi at his residence yesterday and urged him to continue to lead the party.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/what-happened-at-the-cwc-meeting-the-inside-story-221561">Congress Working Committee (CWC) met last weekend</a> to deliberate on the poll debacle and strategise on ways to bring in structural reform in the party.

It is being reported that taking the moral responsibility of party's nemesis in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Rahul offered to step down - a move that was unanimously rejected by party's top brass.

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-adamant-on-resignation-wants-a-non-gandhi-as-next-congress-president-221657/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Sources said that despite senior leaders making serious attempts to convince Gandhi to rethink his decision, Gandhi is said to be unfazed, news agency ANI reported.

Party leaders, sources said, maintained that Congress cannot afford to have a new leader at the helm for rebuilding the organisation at this juncture and that the responsibility for the defeat is collective and not individual.

"The Congress party expects everyone including the media to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC. Various conjectures, speculations, insinuations, assumptions, gossip and rumour mongering in a section of the media is uncalled for and unwarranted," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, more trouble for Congress as three more state party chiefs tendered their resignations on Monday, taking the total number to six.

Congress party chiefs of Jharkhand, Assam and Punjab have also resigned in addition to those from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.&nbsp;

Karnataka Pradesh Campaign Committee chairman HK Patil has also resigned.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Congress party will be holding another Working Committee meeting this week to discuss the leadership issue amid reports of Rahul Gandhi not ready to take back his resignation as the party chief.

The Congress party will be holding another Working Committee meeting this week to discuss the leadership issue amid reports of Rahul Gandhi not ready to take back his resignation as the party chief. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior party leaders have been trying to make Rahul change his mind from exiting the post. Party treasurer Ahmed Patel and organisational general secretary KC Venugopal met with Gandhi at his residence yesterday and urged him to continue to lead the party. Congress Working Committee (CWC) met last weekend to deliberate on the poll debacle and strategise on ways to bring in structural reform in the party. It is being reported that taking the moral responsibility of party's nemesis in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Rahul offered to step down - a move that was unanimously rejected by party's top brass. Watch: Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president Sources said that despite senior leaders making serious attempts to convince Gandhi to rethink his decision, Gandhi is said to be unfazed, news agency ANI reported. Party leaders, sources said, maintained that Congress cannot afford to have a new leader at the helm for rebuilding the organisation at this juncture and that the responsibility for the defeat is collective and not individual. "The Congress party expects everyone including the media to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC. Various conjectures, speculations, insinuations, assumptions, gossip and rumour mongering in a section of the media is uncalled for and unwarranted," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala posted on Twitter. Meanwhile, more trouble for Congress as three more state party chiefs tendered their resignations on Monday, taking the total number to six. Congress party chiefs of Jharkhand, Assam and Punjab have also resigned in addition to those from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Karnataka Pradesh Campaign Committee chairman HK Patil has also resigned. (With inputs from agencies)

With Rahul Gandhi firm on quitting as party chief, Congress Working Committee to meet again

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had a series of visitors on Tuesday with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as well as Rajasthan's ruling duo Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot calling on him amid rumblings of discontent in the state and his insistence on quitting.

Rahul Gandhi obdurate on stepping down as Congress President

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