<p>Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh on Monday called Congress president in the waiting, Rahul Gandhi, &quot;darling&quot; of the party and will carry forward the &quot;great traditions&quot; of the Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party,&quot; the former Prime Minister was quoted as saying after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the party&#39;s top post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has served the party for over 19 years, he said and added: &quot;So it will be yet another chapter for the party and Rahul Gandhi will carry on the great traditions of taking the party forward.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over 90 sets of nominations are expected to be filed supporting Gandhi whose election is a mere formality now, as there is no other candidate for the party&#39;s top post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress chief who has helmed the party since 1998.&nbsp;</p>


Gandhi will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress chief who has helmed the party since 1998

Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh on Monday called Congress president in the waiting, Rahul Gandhi, "darling" of the party and will carry forward the "great traditions" of the Congress. "Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party," the former Prime Minister was quoted as saying after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the party's top post. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has served the party for over 19 years, he said and added: "So it will be yet another chapter for the party and Rahul Gandhi will carry on the great traditions of taking the party forward." Over 90 sets of nominations are expected to be filed supporting Gandhi whose election is a mere formality now, as there is no other candidate for the party's top post. Gandhi will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress chief who has helmed the party since 1998.

Rahul Gandhi darling of Congress: Manmohan Singh

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination for the post of the party&#39;s president today morning.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi: Rahul Gandhi at AICC HQ,files nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/QUHFFtHNXb">pic.twitter.com/QUHFFtHNXb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937550447455301633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Gandhi with Dr.Manmohan Singh and other senior party leaders at AICC HQ after filing nomination <a href="https://t.co/ilzQEu68tH">pic.twitter.com/ilzQEu68tH</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937552314637869056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi: Rahul Gandhi with senior party leaders Mohsina Kidwai and Sheila Dikshit after filing nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/bxVrQRkM9S">pic.twitter.com/bxVrQRkM9S</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937551165692112896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The Congress vice-president&nbsp;is likely to step into the shoes of his mother Sonia Gandhi who who has been holding the post of Congress president for nearly two decades.</p>

<p>Today is the last day for the filing of nominations, the process for which began on Friday. Rahul is expected to run unopposed for the post of the party chief. However, the news can only be confirmed once&nbsp;the names of contenders are published on Tuesday&nbsp;after scrutiny of nominations.</p>

<p>Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he thought Rahul Gandhi would make a &quot;very good prime minister&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;If you ask me, I think he will make a very good Prime Minister,&quot;&nbsp;Captain Amarinder Singh told ANI.</p>

<p>Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was equally effusive in his praise, calling Rahul Gandhi the &quot;darling of the Congress&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party,&quot; the former prime minister said.</p>

<p>Rahul&#39;s nomination comes amid a much-publicised discord.</p>

<p>Former Maharashtra Congress secretary&nbsp;Shehzad Poonawalla&nbsp;today called the election an eyewash.</p>

<p>&quot;My sources are telling me that there is talk among the courtiers that a dummy candidate should be brought in so that this looks like an election. However, now they cannot throw dust in the eyes of the people,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Shehzad Poonawalla had recently alleged that the party&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-office-insulted-me-shehzad-poonawala-25756">presidential elections were rigged</a>.</p>

<p>He had&nbsp;said that they are a &quot;selection&quot;, not an &quot;election&quot; and claimed that he has information that the delegates who will vote in the election for the post of party president had been appointed for their loyalty.</p>

<p>On November 20, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the Congress party president.</p>

<p>The party has set December 16 as the date of polls -- &quot;if necessary&quot;. That is if there is any candidate other than Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19.</p>

<p>If there is no candidate other than Rahul Gandhi, the Congress will declare him president of the party on the last date of scrutiny.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from ANI</em>)</p>


The Congress vice-president?is likely to step into the shoes of his mother Sonia Gandhi who who has been holding the post pf Congress president for nearly two decades

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination for the post of the party's president today morning. Delhi: Rahul Gandhi at AICC HQ,files nomination for Congress President pic.twitter.com/QUHFFtHNXb — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi with Dr.Manmohan Singh and other senior party leaders at AICC HQ after filing nomination pic.twitter.com/ilzQEu68tH — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × Delhi: Rahul Gandhi with senior party leaders Mohsina Kidwai and Sheila Dikshit after filing nomination for Congress President pic.twitter.com/bxVrQRkM9S — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × The Congress vice-president is likely to step into the shoes of his mother Sonia Gandhi who who has been holding the post of Congress president for nearly two decades. Today is the last day for the filing of nominations, the process for which began on Friday. Rahul is expected to run unopposed for the post of the party chief. However, the news can only be confirmed once the names of contenders are published on Tuesday after scrutiny of nominations. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he thought Rahul Gandhi would make a "very good prime minister". "If you ask me, I think he will make a very good Prime Minister," Captain Amarinder Singh told ANI. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was equally effusive in his praise, calling Rahul Gandhi the "darling of the Congress". "Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party," the former prime minister said. Rahul's nomination comes amid a much-publicised discord. Former Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehzad Poonawalla today called the election an eyewash. "My sources are telling me that there is talk among the courtiers that a dummy candidate should be brought in so that this looks like an election. However, now they cannot throw dust in the eyes of the people," he said. Shehzad Poonawalla had recently alleged that the party's presidential elections were rigged. He had said that they are a "selection", not an "election" and claimed that he has information that the delegates who will vote in the election for the post of party president had been appointed for their loyalty. On November 20, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the Congress party president. The party has set December 16 as the date of polls -- "if necessary". That is if there is any candidate other than Gandhi. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19. If there is no candidate other than Rahul Gandhi, the Congress will declare him president of the party on the last date of scrutiny. (With inputs from ANI)

Rahul Gandhi files nomination for Congress president, Amarinder Singh says 'will make very good prime minister'

<p>Countering Maharashtra Congress Secretary Shehzad Poonawalla&#39;s allegations that election&nbsp;for the post of Congress party president is &quot;rigged&quot;, Congress Karnataka&nbsp;chief,&nbsp;Dinesh Gundu&nbsp;Rao on Saturday said Congress is the only party which conducted an election for the post of president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Poonawalla had earlier sarcastically remarked that the upcoming presidential election in the Congress party was a &quot;selection&quot; rather than an &quot;election&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The upcoming Congress president election is a selection and not an election. It&#39;s a sham election process,&quot; Poonawalla had said and added that&nbsp;he had information that the delegates who would vote for party president had been appointed for their loyalty. He also suggested that there should be one ticket in one family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to these allegations, Gundu&nbsp;Rao defended his party&#39;s&nbsp;stand and said, &quot; Congress is the only party which had polls for President.Even when Sonia Gandhi contested, Jitendra Prasad was the opponent.&quot;</p>

<p>The entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become president, he said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress is only party which had polls for President. Even when Sonia Gandhi contested, Jitendra Prasad was opponent. Somebody asking him (Shehzad Poonawalla) to do it to create distractions. Entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become president: Dinesh Gundu Rao, Cong K&#39;taka chief <a href="https://t.co/4lTdzpMMR5">pic.twitter.com/4lTdzpMMR5</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/936899348310274048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Congress Working Committee (CWC)&nbsp;on November 20 had&nbsp;passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the party&#39;s president.</p>

<p>The party has decided to set December 16th as the date of polls &quot;if necessary&quot;. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19.</p>

<p>The last date of filing nominations is December 4, while December 5 is the day of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny.</p>


Responding?to Shehzad Poonawala's comments that claimed 'selection of Congress party president',? the party's Karnataka Chief?has come out with a defending?statement

Countering Maharashtra Congress Secretary Shehzad Poonawalla's allegations that election for the post of Congress party president is "rigged", Congress Karnataka chief, Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday said Congress is the only party which conducted an election for the post of president. Poonawalla had earlier sarcastically remarked that the upcoming presidential election in the Congress party was a "selection" rather than an "election". "The upcoming Congress president election is a selection and not an election. It's a sham election process," Poonawalla had said and added that he had information that the delegates who would vote for party president had been appointed for their loyalty. He also suggested that there should be one ticket in one family. In response to these allegations, Gundu Rao defended his party's stand and said, " Congress is the only party which had polls for President.Even when Sonia Gandhi contested, Jitendra Prasad was the opponent." The entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become president, he said. Congress is only party which had polls for President. Even when Sonia Gandhi contested, Jitendra Prasad was opponent. Somebody asking him (Shehzad Poonawalla) to do it to create distractions. Entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become president: Dinesh Gundu Rao, Cong K'taka chief pic.twitter.com/4lTdzpMMR5 — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017 × The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on November 20 had passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the party's president. The party has decided to set December 16th as the date of polls "if necessary". The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19. The last date of filing nominations is December 4, while December 5 is the day of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny.

'Entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become President': Karnataka Congress chief

<p>Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a dig at Modi saying that former prime minister Indira Gandhi was a &#39;strong believer in Mann Ki Baat as she would listen to peoples voice and not preach.&#39;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Ramesh said Gandhi was &#39;strong believer in Mann Ki Baat as she would listen to peoples voice and not preach.&#39; (Others)</p>
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<p>Ramesh also said that Ms Gandhi ensured that she followed her &#39;mann ki baat&#39; and executed it in a rightful manner.</p>

<p>&quot;Gandhi also was a great believer in &#39;mann ki baat&#39;, but her &#39;mann ki baat&#39; was a listening &#39;mann ki baat&#39; not a speaking &#39;mann ki baat&#39;. When she did &#39;mann ki baat&#39;, she listened, she didn&#39;t pontificate,&quot; said Mr Ramesh.</p>

<p>&quot;She didn&#39;t tell the other person that she had all the answers to all the world&#39;s problem... entire environmental odyssey was a &#39;mann ki baat&#39;, but a listening &#39;mann ki baat&#39;,&quot; he said, he added without mentioning Modi.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the &#39;Mann Ki Baat&#39; on Sunday morning.</p>

<p>Modi also tweeted about&nbsp;the 38th edition of his monthly radio programme and asked the people to come up with ideas on Narendra Modi Mobile Application.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MannKiBaat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MannKiBaat</a> will take place tomorrow at 11 AM. Do tune in. <a href="https://t.co/dfIeEtMRpg">pic.twitter.com/dfIeEtMRpg</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/934386818132389888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In his last address, Modi talked about how people needed to give more importance to children&#39;s health, considering the low-level&nbsp;of immunity among the younger children&nbsp;due to &#39;lifestyle disorder.&#39;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The programme will be broadcast on All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan and the Narendra Modi mobile application.</p>


Modi also posted a tweet and motivated people to come up with ideas on Narendra Modi Mobile Application

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a dig at Modi saying that former prime minister Indira Gandhi was a 'strong believer in Mann Ki Baat as she would listen to peoples voice and not preach.' Ramesh said Gandhi was 'strong believer in Mann Ki Baat as she would listen to peoples voice and not preach.' (Others) × Ramesh also said that Ms Gandhi ensured that she followed her 'mann ki baat' and executed it in a rightful manner. "Gandhi also was a great believer in 'mann ki baat', but her 'mann ki baat' was a listening 'mann ki baat' not a speaking 'mann ki baat'. When she did 'mann ki baat', she listened, she didn't pontificate," said Mr Ramesh. "She didn't tell the other person that she had all the answers to all the world's problem... entire environmental odyssey was a 'mann ki baat', but a listening 'mann ki baat'," he said, he added without mentioning Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday morning. Modi also tweeted about the 38th edition of his monthly radio programme and asked the people to come up with ideas on Narendra Modi Mobile Application. #MannKiBaat will take place tomorrow at 11 AM. Do tune in. pic.twitter.com/dfIeEtMRpg — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2017 × In his last address, Modi talked about how people needed to give more importance to children's health, considering the low-level of immunity among the younger children due to 'lifestyle disorder.' The programme will be broadcast on All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan and the Narendra Modi mobile application.

Indira Gandhi believed in people's 'Mann ki Baat': Jairam Ramesh

<p>Condemning the terror attack in Egypt, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said attacks like these are a reminder that terrorism remains the biggest challenge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Expressing her concern over terrorists attack, the Congress leader called for a&nbsp; sustained response from global communities for attacks like this. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack took place in Egypt near the provincial capital of El-Arish during weekly prayers in a mosque when attackers hit the mosque with bombs and fired at people. The death toll rose to 235 while over 125 injured.</p>

<p>Congress president voiced unanimity with the citizens of Egypt and said that it was a vicious act of terror against innocent Egyptians and said that terrorism is a crime against the innocent people of the world for where there can never be a justification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;This cowardly attack is a stark reminder that the persisting menace of terrorism remains a formidable challenge that calls for a concerted and sustained response from the global community,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>Hours after the killing of over 230 worshippers in a deadly attack at the mosque in Egypt&#39;s North Sinai, the country&#39;s air force has launched a retaliatory attack on terror hideouts in the surrounding.&nbsp;</p>


The attack took place in Egypt near the provincial capital of El-Arish during weekly prayers in a mosque when attackers hit the mosque with bombs and fired at people

Condemning the terror attack in Egypt, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said attacks like these are a reminder that terrorism remains the biggest challenge. Expressing her concern over terrorists attack, the Congress leader called for a sustained response from global communities for attacks like this. The attack took place in Egypt near the provincial capital of El-Arish during weekly prayers in a mosque when attackers hit the mosque with bombs and fired at people. The death toll rose to 235 while over 125 injured. Congress president voiced unanimity with the citizens of Egypt and said that it was a vicious act of terror against innocent Egyptians and said that terrorism is a crime against the innocent people of the world for where there can never be a justification. "This cowardly attack is a stark reminder that the persisting menace of terrorism remains a formidable challenge that calls for a concerted and sustained response from the global community," she said. Hours after the killing of over 230 worshippers in a deadly attack at the mosque in Egypt's North Sinai, the country's air force has launched a retaliatory attack on terror hideouts in the surrounding.

Sonia Gandhi calls for response from global community after Egypt mosque attack

<p>Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki&nbsp;on Thursday alleged that BJP is responsible for the&nbsp;&#39;&#39;fake&nbsp;resignation letter with my&nbsp;signature on it&#39;&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just a week after the fake candidate list surfaced, Solanki&#39;s resignation letter with&nbsp;his signature on it --&nbsp;addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi -- has gone viral on social media, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Solanki also took to Twitter to clarify that the letter was fake, and blamed the ruling BJP for &quot;spreading lies on social media&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;A fake resignation letter is going around on social media with my signature, claiming that I have resigned from the presidentship of Gujarat Congress. It is completely fake and I have issued no such letter,&quot; Solanki tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A Fake resignation letter is going around on Social Media with my signature, claiming that I have resigned from the Presidentship of <a href="https://twitter.com/INCGujarat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCGujarat</a>. It is completely fake &amp; I have issued no such letter. I am a loyal soldier of the party &amp; will always remain so. 1/2</p>
&mdash; Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BharatSolankee/status/933694934472843264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Solanki added that this was BJP&#39;s doing since they were &#39;nervous, scared and rattled&#39; by the Gujrat elections and are spreading wrong information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress said it will file a complaint with the Election Commission on this issue. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The BJP is nervous and rattled by the surging popularity of Gujarat Congress. We will meet the Election Commission tomorrow regarding this issue and to lodge a complaint against the BJP,&quot; Solanki said in another tweet.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP is nervous &amp; rattled by the surging popularity of <a href="https://twitter.com/INCGujarat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCGujarat</a> &amp; as people of all section are coming together to root out its Anti-People Govt out of sheer desperation they are spreading such lies on Social media to deflect from the real issues. 2/2</p>
&mdash; Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BharatSolankee/status/933695286144245760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Just a week after the fake candidate list surfaced around, Solanki's resignation letter with his signature on it - addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi - has become viral on social media, reports said.

Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki on Thursday alleged that BJP is responsible for the ''fake resignation letter with my signature on it''. Just a week after the fake candidate list surfaced, Solanki's resignation letter with his signature on it -- addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi -- has gone viral on social media, reports said. Solanki also took to Twitter to clarify that the letter was fake, and blamed the ruling BJP for "spreading lies on social media". "A fake resignation letter is going around on social media with my signature, claiming that I have resigned from the presidentship of Gujarat Congress. It is completely fake and I have issued no such letter," Solanki tweeted. A Fake resignation letter is going around on Social Media with my signature, claiming that I have resigned from the Presidentship of @INCGujarat. It is completely fake & I have issued no such letter. I am a loyal soldier of the party & will always remain so. 1/2 — Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) November 23, 2017 × Solanki added that this was BJP's doing since they were 'nervous, scared and rattled' by the Gujrat elections and are spreading wrong information. The Congress said it will file a complaint with the Election Commission on this issue. "The BJP is nervous and rattled by the surging popularity of Gujarat Congress. We will meet the Election Commission tomorrow regarding this issue and to lodge a complaint against the BJP," Solanki said in another tweet. BJP is nervous & rattled by the surging popularity of @INCGujarat & as people of all section are coming together to root out its Anti-People Govt out of sheer desperation they are spreading such lies on Social media to deflect from the real issues. 2/2 — Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) November 23, 2017 ×

BJP responsible for my fake resignation letter: Gujarat Congress chief

<p style="text-align: justify;">Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said Parliament sessions were often rescheduled to ensure they did not overlap with elections and claimed the Congress had done so too in the past.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">On Congress president Sonia Gandhi&#39;s allegation that the government was &quot;sabotaging&quot; the Winter session of Parliament, Jaitley said the opposition party had also delayed a session in 2011 and even earlier because the sittings coincided with election campaigns.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&quot;It has been a tradition and it has happened several times that Parliament sessions are rescheduled when an election is happening,&quot; he told reporters here.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">He also said the session would be held and the Congress &quot;totally exposed&quot;.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&quot;The Congress has given the most corrupt government in its ten years of rule, while Narendra Modi has given the most honest government. By forcibly saying that a truth is a lie does not make it a lie,&quot; Jaitley said.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">He said the Congress had itself rescheduled Parliament sessions several times.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&quot;(The) timing is decided such that they do not overlap with election campaigns. (Congress) did so in 2011, and even before that,&quot; the senior BJP leader said.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Winter session of Parliament usually starts in the third week of November and lasts until the third week of December.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&quot;Parliament session will be held for sure and on all subjects, and the Congress will be totally exposed,&quot; Jaitley said.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Sources said the government was considering a truncated Winter session of around 10 days starting from the second week of December.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee in New Delhi today, Sonia Gandhi said, &quot;The Modi government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India&#39;s Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter session of Parliament on flimsy grounds.&quot;</p>


Congress President Sonia Gandhi had made the allegation

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said Parliament sessions were often rescheduled to ensure they did not overlap with elections and claimed the Congress had done so too in the past. On Congress president Sonia Gandhi's allegation that the government was "sabotaging" the Winter session of Parliament, Jaitley said the opposition party had also delayed a session in 2011 and even earlier because the sittings coincided with election campaigns. "It has been a tradition and it has happened several times that Parliament sessions are rescheduled when an election is happening," he told reporters here. He also said the session would be held and the Congress "totally exposed". "The Congress has given the most corrupt government in its ten years of rule, while Narendra Modi has given the most honest government. By forcibly saying that a truth is a lie does not make it a lie," Jaitley said. He said the Congress had itself rescheduled Parliament sessions several times. "(The) timing is decided such that they do not overlap with election campaigns. (Congress) did so in 2011, and even before that," the senior BJP leader said. The Winter session of Parliament usually starts in the third week of November and lasts until the third week of December. "Parliament session will be held for sure and on all subjects, and the Congress will be totally exposed," Jaitley said. Sources said the government was considering a truncated Winter session of around 10 days starting from the second week of December. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee in New Delhi today, Sonia Gandhi said, "The Modi government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India's Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter session of Parliament on flimsy grounds."

Not sabotaging winter session of Parliament: Arun Jaitley

<p>Sonia Gandhi,70, wife of Rajiv Gandhi&nbsp;born as&nbsp;&quot;Edvige Antonia Albina M&agrave;ino&quot;&nbsp;in Lusiana&nbsp;Veneto, a little known Italian village is the longest-serving Congress president in the history of the 132-year old Congress party.</p>

<p>Next month she will relinquish her position as party chief to her son Rahul Gandhi as the grand old party sets a new path under a&nbsp;new president. Rahul though will be hard-pressed to match his mother who took over the reins of the party when the Congress was seen to be in decline in the late 90s with a resurgent BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee set to take over power at the Centre.</p>

<p>The steely Sonia not only fought her way beating Sitaram Kesri in 1998 but also took up the unenviable task of putting the party back on track without much political experience to bank upon. The BJP was quick to raise the &quot;foreign origin&quot; banner against her, with some even in her own party namely Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot keen to &quot;expose&quot; her Indian credentials.</p>

<p>Sonia began building the party as Pawar left and other leaders fell away, even as the party continued to decline, however, the leader of India&#39;s biggest opposition began work at the grassroots as the BJP came to power under Atal Bihari&#39;s prime ministership in 1999. Sonia&#39;s struggle&nbsp;officially lasted for the next five years.</p>

<p>Sonia&#39;s biggest political blunder in her early years was misreading the late AIADMK leader Jayalalitha&#39;s mind in 1999 after the Vajpayee government failed the confidence vote. Sonia declared she had the numbers to form the government with AIADMK&#39;s support but in a historic volte-face Jayalalitha decided not to support Sonia, leaving the Congress president red-faced plunging the party into political abyss.</p>

<p>Sonia rose like a colossus during the 2004 elections despite Advani&#39;s &quot;India Shining&quot; campaign and political pundits declaring the Congress had no chance against a well-entrenched BJP. The saffron party&#39;s&nbsp;defeat in May 2004 not only stunned the nation, it meant Vajpayee left the political stage forever&nbsp;with the &quot;queen of Indian politics&quot;&nbsp;Sonia Gandhi stealing the limelight.</p>

<p>Sonia&#39;s decision to put Manmohan Singh&#39;s name as prime minister led to a firestorm in the Congress, however, her act of &quot;renunciation&quot;&nbsp;won her political points and shielded her against possible &quot;foreign origin&quot; attacks which trailed her for most of her career.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the &quot;tallest leader&quot; in the Congress from 2004 to 2014, the Congress and the Indian government was virtually led by the &quot;Sonia factor&quot; which was seized upon by Modi accusing the Congress of remote controlling events at 10, Race Course.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi will still have to mentor her son Rahul Gandhi as he takes over the Congress party, with time against her, Sonia is set to write the last page in her&nbsp;political chapter her own way as she decides to fade into the sunset.</p>


Next month she will relinquish her position as party chief to her son Rahul Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi,70, wife of Rajiv Gandhi born as "Edvige Antonia Albina Màino" in Lusiana Veneto, a little known Italian village is the longest-serving Congress president in the history of the 132-year old Congress party. Next month she will relinquish her position as party chief to her son Rahul Gandhi as the grand old party sets a new path under a new president. Rahul though will be hard-pressed to match his mother who took over the reins of the party when the Congress was seen to be in decline in the late 90s with a resurgent BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee set to take over power at the Centre. The steely Sonia not only fought her way beating Sitaram Kesri in 1998 but also took up the unenviable task of putting the party back on track without much political experience to bank upon. The BJP was quick to raise the "foreign origin" banner against her, with some even in her own party namely Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot keen to "expose" her Indian credentials. Sonia began building the party as Pawar left and other leaders fell away, even as the party continued to decline, however, the leader of India's biggest opposition began work at the grassroots as the BJP came to power under Atal Bihari's prime ministership in 1999. Sonia's struggle officially lasted for the next five years. Sonia's biggest political blunder in her early years was misreading the late AIADMK leader Jayalalitha's mind in 1999 after the Vajpayee government failed the confidence vote. Sonia declared she had the numbers to form the government with AIADMK's support but in a historic volte-face Jayalalitha decided not to support Sonia, leaving the Congress president red-faced plunging the party into political abyss. Sonia rose like a colossus during the 2004 elections despite Advani's "India Shining" campaign and political pundits declaring the Congress had no chance against a well-entrenched BJP. The saffron party's defeat in May 2004 not only stunned the nation, it meant Vajpayee left the political stage forever with the "queen of Indian politics" Sonia Gandhi stealing the limelight. Sonia's decision to put Manmohan Singh's name as prime minister led to a firestorm in the Congress, however, her act of "renunciation" won her political points and shielded her against possible "foreign origin" attacks which trailed her for most of her career. As the "tallest leader" in the Congress from 2004 to 2014, the Congress and the Indian government was virtually led by the "Sonia factor" which was seized upon by Modi accusing the Congress of remote controlling events at 10, Race Course. Sonia Gandhi will still have to mentor her son Rahul Gandhi as he takes over the Congress party, with time against her, Sonia is set to write the last page in her political chapter her own way as she decides to fade into the sunset.

Sonia Gandhi: Congress president set to turn 'political page'

<p>Congress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cwc-passes-resolution-to-make-rahul-gandhi-congress-president-24631">today released election dates to elect</a> the next president of the party.</p>

<p>The party has decided<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncp-wont-fight-gujarat-elections-with-congress-praful-patel-24627"> to set December 16th</a> as the date of polls &quot;if necessary&quot;, with the counting of votes and declaration of results to take place on December 19th.</p>

<p>The last date of filing nominations will take place on December 4th, however, the date to watch out for will be December 5th which is the last date of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny.</p>

<p>Congress announced the dates even as the party passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president of the party at a CWC meeting at 10, Janpath in the capital on Monday morning.</p>

<p>The meeting attended by top Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out the path for Rahul Gandhi&#39;s crowing as party president.</p>

<p>Rahul&#39;s coronation as party president could coincide with the Gujarat elections in December especially if the Congress vice-president is declared the winner on December 5th.</p>

<p>The Congress leader will then have to contend with a bitter fight as soon as he takes over as the head of the grand old party.</p>


In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny

Congress today released election dates to elect the next president of the party. The party has decided to set December 16th as the date of polls "if necessary", with the counting of votes and declaration of results to take place on December 19th. The last date of filing nominations will take place on December 4th, however, the date to watch out for will be December 5th which is the last date of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny. Congress announced the dates even as the party passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president of the party at a CWC meeting at 10, Janpath in the capital on Monday morning. The meeting attended by top Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out the path for Rahul Gandhi's crowing as party president. Rahul's coronation as party president could coincide with the Gujarat elections in December especially if the Congress vice-president is declared the winner on December 5th. The Congress leader will then have to contend with a bitter fight as soon as he takes over as the head of the grand old party.

Rahul as Congress president: Party says will hold polls 'if necessary'

<p>Congress Working Committee(CWC) today passed a resolution to make&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi president of the party.</p>

<p>The CWC meeting began at 10 Janpath in the capital on Monday morning to&nbsp;set a&nbsp;date for party elections to&nbsp;elect a new leader.</p>

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<p>Rahul Gandhi&#39;s elevation would mean Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be stepping down after the longest reign ever at the helm of the grand old party lasting nineteen years.</p>

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<p>Sonia Gandhi had dislodged Sitaram Kesri in 1998 to become the Congress president.</p>


The CWC meeting began 10 Janpath in the capital on Monday morning.

Congress Working Committee(CWC) today passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president of the party. The CWC meeting began at 10 Janpath in the capital on Monday morning to set a date for party elections to elect a new leader. Delhi: Congress Working Committee(CWC) meeting to begin shortly, leaders arrive at 10 Janpath pic.twitter.com/pHKnqYdLDd — ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi's elevation would mean Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be stepping down after the longest reign ever at the helm of the grand old party lasting nineteen years. Delhi: Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting underway at 10, Janpath pic.twitter.com/pBjydJoqij — ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2017 × Sonia Gandhi had dislodged Sitaram Kesri in 1998 to become the Congress president.

CWC passes resolution to make Rahul Gandhi Congress president

<p>The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting is underway at 10 Janpath. Several prominent leaders of the party are taking part in the meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CWC, party&#39;s highest decision-making body, is likely to set the ball rolling for Rahul Gandhi&#39;s elevation as Congress president.</p>

<p>After missing several deadlines, the CWC &nbsp;is expected to approve an election today.</p>

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&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/932479788744245248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the party constitution, the CWC meeting is required to approve the schedule for the election of the party president. This will be the final step for Rahul &nbsp;Gandhi to be elevated as President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).</p>

<p>And as it is unlikely that there will be a contender to challenge Rahul, his election will be complete by mid-December.</p>

<p>The decision came after a meeting was held on Saturday.</p>

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<p>The elevation of Rahul Gandhi will mean that he will also be heading the final phase of the politically crucial Gujarat elections as AICC chief.</p>

<p>Rahul&#39;s taking charge of the party will bring the end of an era of Sonia Gandi heading as party chief and it will end a long apprenticeship that saw Rahul being named vice-president in January 2013.</p>


After missing several deadlines, the CWC is expected to approve an election today

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting is underway at 10 Janpath. Several prominent leaders of the party are taking part in the meeting. The CWC, party's highest decision-making body, is likely to set the ball rolling for Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress president. After missing several deadlines, the CWC is expected to approve an election today. Delhi: Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting underway at 10, Janpath pic.twitter.com/pBjydJoqij — ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2017 × According to the party constitution, the CWC meeting is required to approve the schedule for the election of the party president. This will be the final step for Rahul Gandhi to be elevated as President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). And as it is unlikely that there will be a contender to challenge Rahul, his election will be complete by mid-December. The decision came after a meeting was held on Saturday. Delhi: Congress Working Committee(CWC) meeting to begin shortly, leaders arrive at 10 Janpath pic.twitter.com/pHKnqYdLDd — ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2017 × The elevation of Rahul Gandhi will mean that he will also be heading the final phase of the politically crucial Gujarat elections as AICC chief. Rahul's taking charge of the party will bring the end of an era of Sonia Gandi heading as party chief and it will end a long apprenticeship that saw Rahul being named vice-president in January 2013.

CWC meet gets underway at 10 Janpath, to pave way for Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party president

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi slammed the government Monday for &quot;sabotaging&quot; the winter session&nbsp;of Parliament.</p>

<p>She said the government was sabotaging the session on &quot;flimsy grounds&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The Modi government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India&#39;s Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter session of Parliament on flimsy grounds,&quot; PTI reported Gandhi as saying.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi also took potshots at the GST and demonetisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said the government had been ill-prepared to implement&nbsp;the Goods and Services Tax, and that demonetisation had &quot;left millions of people suffering&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi was speaking at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-passing-resolution-on-rahul-gandhi-as-party-president-congress-announces-poll-dates-24640" target="_blank">Also </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-passing-resolution-on-rahul-gandhi-as-party-president-congress-announces-poll-dates-24640" target="_blank">read:</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-passing-resolution-on-rahul-gandhi-as-party-president-congress-announces-poll-dates-24640" target="_blank">&nbsp;Rahul as Congress president: Party says will hold polls &#39;if necessary&#39;</a></p>

<p>Gandhi added that the government was&nbsp;&quot;forcefully&quot; trying to change the history of modern India by &quot;erasing contributions&quot; made by India&#39;s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Arun Jaitley responded to Sonia Gandhi&#39;s allegations, saying the Congress too had postponed Parliament sessions because they had coincided with election campaigns.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaitley-refutes-sonias-charge-of-govt-sabotaging-parl-session-24650" target="_blank">Also read: </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaitley-refutes-sonias-charge-of-govt-sabotaging-parl-session-24650">Not sabotaging winter session of Parliament, says Arun Jaitley&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>&quot;It has been a tradition and it has happened several times that Parliament sessions are rescheduled when an election is happening,&quot; Jaitley said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The winter session of Parliament usually starts from the third week of November and lasts until the third week of December.</p>

<p>This time around, the government is considering a truncated winter session of around 10 days starting from the second week of December.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


'The Modi government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India's Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter session of Parliament on flimsy grounds,' Gandhi said?at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee

Congress President Sonia Gandhi slammed the government Monday for "sabotaging" the winter session of Parliament. She said the government was sabotaging the session on "flimsy grounds". "The Modi government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India's Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter session of Parliament on flimsy grounds," PTI reported Gandhi as saying. Gandhi also took potshots at the GST and demonetisation. She said the government had been ill-prepared to implement the Goods and Services Tax, and that demonetisation had "left millions of people suffering". Gandhi was speaking at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee. Also read: Rahul as Congress president: Party says will hold polls 'if necessary' Gandhi added that the government was "forcefully" trying to change the history of modern India by "erasing contributions" made by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi. Arun Jaitley responded to Sonia Gandhi's allegations, saying the Congress too had postponed Parliament sessions because they had coincided with election campaigns. Also read: Not sabotaging winter session of Parliament, says Arun Jaitley "It has been a tradition and it has happened several times that Parliament sessions are rescheduled when an election is happening," Jaitley said. The winter session of Parliament usually starts from the third week of November and lasts until the third week of December. This time around, the government is considering a truncated winter session of around 10 days starting from the second week of December.

Sonia Gandhi says government 'sabotaging' winter session of Parliament

<p>Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as the Congress President. The change is happening at a&nbsp;time when Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s media campaign has started to make an impression on the public. How deep and lasting the impression will be is a question whose answer will only be available&nbsp;in the results of upcoming elections.&nbsp; It is difficult to assess public figures in sub-continental politics as political structures remain feudal but Rahul&rsquo;s assessment will have to be done on what he did and what he seems to be doing.</p>

<p>The real Gandhi is a mystery. His actions will tell us the real story. Whether he is a misunderstood leader or a flawed one, his actions will define him as he stands on the cusp of change.</p>

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<h5>Rahul Gandhi is a leader in search of a victory. His party has seen many but he hasn&rsquo;t tasted one which can solely be attributed to his abilities.</h5>
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<p>On the first look, he is a leader in search of a victory. His party has seen many but he hasn&rsquo;t tasted one which can solely be attributed to his abilities. He tried his luck in Uttar Pradesh but failed thrice. He is giving his best in Gujarat but the jury is still out on it. In every politics, leaders are foremost defined by their victories and mass appeal. The ability of a leader to deliver elections make or break him.</p>

<p>This rule also applies to Rahul Gandhi. Any victory attributed to him will redefine him. He is in search of his. He is in search of his mass appeal which runs bigger than his party. In our feudal sub-continent, a leader is considered &lsquo;arrived&rsquo; when his footprint exceeds that of his party. Sonia delivered 2004 Lok Sabha elections and Manmohan Singh 2009. They were loved and rewarded for it. Sonia as a coalition builder and Mr Singh as Singh is King. Both Sonia and Manmohan Singh changed with the time and so has Rahul Gandhi.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Whether it is a lasting tilak on his forehead or multiple temple visits, he has made those rituals public for the larger body to see that he understands the diversity of Hinduism and is keen to participate in it. Earlier, he wanted to change the party and today he wants to be the glue which brings everyone together. His earlier version of secularism was rooted in his European experience but today it travels a civilisational path where the state remains secular but civil society&rsquo;s behaviour gets moderated by the largest majority of the country.</p>

<p>Obviously, he doesn&rsquo;t accept its zealotry but accepts that there nothing wrong in expressing political thought through classical religious or cultural idioms like &#39;machli ki aankh&#39; which did in monday&rsquo;s CWC which is associated with Arjuna&rsquo;s &lsquo;focus&rsquo; in Mahabharat.</p>

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<h5>Rahul is both weakness and strength of the Congress party. He unites the party but also ensures that mobility is restricted to the second tier.</h5>
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<p>He has a very well entrenched and sophisticated opponent in Modi. He represents the worst fears of the Congress. PM cut from the traditional cloth of RSS against whom the founding fathers of the Congress battled. His life too will be full of contradictions. Rahul is both weakness and strength of the Congress party. He unites the party but also ensures that mobility is restricted to the second tier.</p>

<p>He can allow families greater political space than BJP but cannot stop them for the sake of organisational parity. YSR Reddy&rsquo;s legacy is a classic example of it when his son Jagan Mohan Reddy rebelled against the Congress.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s journey has been that of privilege but it brought in its own set of contradictions. Rahul was new and untainted. He was fresh with ideas. The Congress party was set in the ways and since Rahul Gandhi came top down, the changes became even more difficult to effect. His ideas drew legitimacy from his lineage and not popular appeal. Things Kejriwal and Modi did Rahul could not because he had to deal with a well-placed power arrangement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He wanted to do surgery on a system which enabled Congress to stay in power but also corroded its organisational base. Congress had the freedom of alliance but the very openness became its bane as regional powers profited at their expense.&nbsp;Congress stuck to the status quo, fearing that BJP would come to power. The very right enabled the regime but became an extra baggage as Opposition lumped it as feudal and slow on the industry.</p>

<p>The division of power which propelled Sonia as &#39;tyaag ki devi&#39; (goddess of sacrifice) was turned into a slogan of PM without authority and Sonia with power but without accountability. These are the paradoxes which affected Rahul Gandhi in the last 13 years. He wanted to be an outsider in a system controlled by her family but got rejected as good pedigree became a bad word. Politics by that time was already controlled by multiple outsiders.</p>

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<h5>Sonia&rsquo;s Congress was different from that of Rajiv. Indira&rsquo;s Congress was vastly different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru and that of Lal Bahadur Shastri.</h5>
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<p>It is not known what Rahul thinks of it. He has no choice but to accept the disability and fight with It. In today&rsquo;s world, the face of an individual defines the body politics of a party. Rahul who was conceived as a part-time politician today has become a full-time consummate politician. He has shown the ability to fight back. He has shown the ability even to force changes in PM&rsquo;s strategy. It is for no reason that &#39;suit boot ki Sarkar&#39; - a slogan coined by Rahul riled the BJP government the most.</p>

<p>Every Congress president has refashioned the party in their own image. Sonia&rsquo;s Congress was different from that of Rajiv. Indira&rsquo;s Congress was vastly different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. India will now see Rahul&rsquo;s Congress. Lastly, elevation is a foregone conclusion and easy, but running the party would be the where the real challenge lies.</p>


Rahul Gandhi, who was conceived as a part-time politician, has today become a consummate, full-time one

Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as the Congress President. The change is happening at a time when Rahul Gandhi’s media campaign has started to make an impression on the public. How deep and lasting the impression will be is a question whose answer will only be available in the results of upcoming elections. It is difficult to assess public figures in sub-continental politics as political structures remain feudal but Rahul’s assessment will have to be done on what he did and what he seems to be doing. The real Gandhi is a mystery. His actions will tell us the real story. Whether he is a misunderstood leader or a flawed one, his actions will define him as he stands on the cusp of change. Rahul Gandhi is a leader in search of a victory. His party has seen many but he hasn’t tasted one which can solely be attributed to his abilities. × On the first look, he is a leader in search of a victory. His party has seen many but he hasn’t tasted one which can solely be attributed to his abilities. He tried his luck in Uttar Pradesh but failed thrice. He is giving his best in Gujarat but the jury is still out on it. In every politics, leaders are foremost defined by their victories and mass appeal. The ability of a leader to deliver elections make or break him. This rule also applies to Rahul Gandhi. Any victory attributed to him will redefine him. He is in search of his. He is in search of his mass appeal which runs bigger than his party. In our feudal sub-continent, a leader is considered ‘arrived’ when his footprint exceeds that of his party. Sonia delivered 2004 Lok Sabha elections and Manmohan Singh 2009. They were loved and rewarded for it. Sonia as a coalition builder and Mr Singh as Singh is King. Both Sonia and Manmohan Singh changed with the time and so has Rahul Gandhi. Whether it is a lasting tilak on his forehead or multiple temple visits, he has made those rituals public for the larger body to see that he understands the diversity of Hinduism and is keen to participate in it. Earlier, he wanted to change the party and today he wants to be the glue which brings everyone together. His earlier version of secularism was rooted in his European experience but today it travels a civilisational path where the state remains secular but civil society’s behaviour gets moderated by the largest majority of the country. Obviously, he doesn’t accept its zealotry but accepts that there nothing wrong in expressing political thought through classical religious or cultural idioms like 'machli ki aankh' which did in monday’s CWC which is associated with Arjuna’s ‘focus’ in Mahabharat. Rahul is both weakness and strength of the Congress party. He unites the party but also ensures that mobility is restricted to the second tier. × He has a very well entrenched and sophisticated opponent in Modi. He represents the worst fears of the Congress. PM cut from the traditional cloth of RSS against whom the founding fathers of the Congress battled. His life too will be full of contradictions. Rahul is both weakness and strength of the Congress party. He unites the party but also ensures that mobility is restricted to the second tier. He can allow families greater political space than BJP but cannot stop them for the sake of organisational parity. YSR Reddy’s legacy is a classic example of it when his son Jagan Mohan Reddy rebelled against the Congress. Rahul Gandhi’s journey has been that of privilege but it brought in its own set of contradictions. Rahul was new and untainted. He was fresh with ideas. The Congress party was set in the ways and since Rahul Gandhi came top down, the changes became even more difficult to effect. His ideas drew legitimacy from his lineage and not popular appeal. Things Kejriwal and Modi did Rahul could not because he had to deal with a well-placed power arrangement. He wanted to do surgery on a system which enabled Congress to stay in power but also corroded its organisational base. Congress had the freedom of alliance but the very openness became its bane as regional powers profited at their expense. Congress stuck to the status quo, fearing that BJP would come to power. The very right enabled the regime but became an extra baggage as Opposition lumped it as feudal and slow on the industry. The division of power which propelled Sonia as 'tyaag ki devi' (goddess of sacrifice) was turned into a slogan of PM without authority and Sonia with power but without accountability. These are the paradoxes which affected Rahul Gandhi in the last 13 years. He wanted to be an outsider in a system controlled by her family but got rejected as good pedigree became a bad word. Politics by that time was already controlled by multiple outsiders. Sonia’s Congress was different from that of Rajiv. Indira’s Congress was vastly different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru and that of Lal Bahadur Shastri. × It is not known what Rahul thinks of it. He has no choice but to accept the disability and fight with It. In today’s world, the face of an individual defines the body politics of a party. Rahul who was conceived as a part-time politician today has become a full-time consummate politician. He has shown the ability to fight back. He has shown the ability even to force changes in PM’s strategy. It is for no reason that 'suit boot ki Sarkar' - a slogan coined by Rahul riled the BJP government the most. Every Congress president has refashioned the party in their own image. Sonia’s Congress was different from that of Rajiv. Indira’s Congress was vastly different from that of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. India will now see Rahul’s Congress. Lastly, elevation is a foregone conclusion and easy, but running the party would be the where the real challenge lies.

On cusp of change, can Rahul Gandhi lead Congress?

<p>In their response to&nbsp;Subramanian Swamy&#39;s complaint in connection with the National Herald case,&nbsp;Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi stated that the application filed by the BJP leader was not bonafide.</p>

<p>Calling the complaint a &quot;lifeless case&quot; they said that the application has been filled with the sole object of &quot;delaying the proceedings&quot;.</p>

<p>They also said in their&nbsp;response that the complainant and BJP leader has used various tactics to delay his appearance in the court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They said that the application was filed with &quot;most casual manner&quot;. It failed to call witnesses and documents within a&nbsp;specified period of time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mother-son duo called for an immediate rejection of the complaint.</p>

<p>Subramanian Swamy had filed a complaint against the newspaper National Herald in 2012. The complaint was filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, party leaders Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda.</p>

<p>In the complaint, he alleged that the Congress granted an interest-free loan of Rs 90.25 crore to the owner of National Herald-Associated Journal Limited (AJL). It further stated&nbsp;that Congress had mismanaged the loan which remained outstanding. Sonia and Rahul were made directors of the company, Young India, in 2010. The company acquired all the shareholdings of the AJL amounting to Rs 5,000 crore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court will hear the matter on January 20.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Calling the complaint a 'lifeless case' they said that the application has been filled with the sole object of 'delaying the proceedings'

In their response to Subramanian Swamy's complaint in connection with the National Herald case, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi stated that the application filed by the BJP leader was not bonafide. Calling the complaint a "lifeless case" they said that the application has been filled with the sole object of "delaying the proceedings". They also said in their response that the complainant and BJP leader has used various tactics to delay his appearance in the court. They said that the application was filed with "most casual manner". It failed to call witnesses and documents within a specified period of time. The mother-son duo called for an immediate rejection of the complaint. Subramanian Swamy had filed a complaint against the newspaper National Herald in 2012. The complaint was filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, party leaders Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda. In the complaint, he alleged that the Congress granted an interest-free loan of Rs 90.25 crore to the owner of National Herald-Associated Journal Limited (AJL). It further stated that Congress had mismanaged the loan which remained outstanding. Sonia and Rahul were made directors of the company, Young India, in 2010. The company acquired all the shareholdings of the AJL amounting to Rs 5,000 crore. The court will hear the matter on January 20.

Sonia, Rahul respond to National Herald case, call for its dismissal

<p>As India&#39;s first and only female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi&nbsp;fought for her vision against &#39;vested interests&#39;, said Congress president Sonia Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Inauguration of a photo exhibition on Indira Gandhi on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary, the Congress president said,&nbsp;&quot;Indira Ji was the iron lady of India.&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indira ji was the iron lady of India.She fought for her vision against vested interests: Sonia Gandhi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/JJdQM041OH">pic.twitter.com/JJdQM041OH</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/932121467478614016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;&#39;&#39;Indira Gandhi fought for secularism, against those who wanted to divide society on religion and caste,&#39;&#39; she added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">She fought for secularism and against those who wanted to divide society on religion and caste lines: Sonia Gandhi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ik9GW1ah2b">pic.twitter.com/Ik9GW1ah2b</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/932134665850273792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking on the occasion, former president Pranab Mukherjee said that Indira can never be erased from the pages of history.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">She can never be erased from the pages of history: Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Indira Gandhi&#39;s birth anniversary <a href="https://t.co/9AWyaAUXtB">pic.twitter.com/9AWyaAUXtB</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/932128367591034880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Over 200 archived images from&nbsp;Indira Gandhi&#39;s life will be available for public viewing at the&nbsp;Indira Gandhi&nbsp;Memorial Trust from November 21.&nbsp;Titled &#39;Indira: A Life of Courage&#39;, the exclusive photographic exhibition was inaugurated to commemorate the birth centenary of former the former prime minister.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi greets senior party leaders Sheila Dikshit and Dr. Karan Singh at inauguration of a photo exhibition on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/0M6YAdr7sd">pic.twitter.com/0M6YAdr7sd</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/932126656407334914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier in the day, several leaders including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi,&nbsp;former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-indira-gandhi-24551" target="_blank">paid their respects to Indira Gandhi</a>.</p>


Former president Pranab Mukherjee also spoke on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi.He said that Indira can never be erased from the pages of history

As India's first and only female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi fought for her vision against 'vested interests', said Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Inauguration of a photo exhibition on Indira Gandhi on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary, the Congress president said, "Indira Ji was the iron lady of India.". Indira ji was the iron lady of India.She fought for her vision against vested interests: Sonia Gandhi #IndiraGandhi pic.twitter.com/JJdQM041OH — ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2017 × ''Indira Gandhi fought for secularism, against those who wanted to divide society on religion and caste,'' she added. She fought for secularism and against those who wanted to divide society on religion and caste lines: Sonia Gandhi #IndiraGandhi pic.twitter.com/Ik9GW1ah2b — ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2017 × Speaking on the occasion, former president Pranab Mukherjee said that Indira can never be erased from the pages of history. She can never be erased from the pages of history: Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary pic.twitter.com/9AWyaAUXtB — ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2017 × Over 200 archived images from Indira Gandhi's life will be available for public viewing at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust from November 21. Titled 'Indira: A Life of Courage', the exclusive photographic exhibition was inaugurated to commemorate the birth centenary of former the former prime minister. Delhi: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi greets senior party leaders Sheila Dikshit and Dr. Karan Singh at inauguration of a photo exhibition on #IndiraGandhi pic.twitter.com/0M6YAdr7sd — ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2017 × Earlier in the day, several leaders including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their respects to Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi fought for secularism: Sonia Gandhi

<p>After missing several deadlines Congress Working Committee (CWC) &nbsp;is expected to approve an election schedule on Monday.</p>

<p>According to the party constitution, the CWC meeting is required to approve the schedule for the election of the party president. This will be the final step for Rahul &nbsp;Gandhi to be elevated as President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).</p>

<p>And as it is unlikely that there will be a contender to challenge Rahul, his election will be complete by mid-December.</p>

<p>The decision came after a meeting was held on Saturday.</p>

<p>The elevation of Rahul Gandhi will mean that he will also be heading the final phase of the politically crucial Gujarat elections as AICC chief.</p>

<p>Rahul&#39;s taking charge of the party will bring the end of an era of Sonia Gandi heading as party chief and it will end a long apprenticeship that saw Rahul being named vice-president in January 2013.</p>


After missing several deadlines Congress Working Committee (CWC) ?is expected to approve an election schedule on Monday

After missing several deadlines Congress Working Committee (CWC) is expected to approve an election schedule on Monday. According to the party constitution, the CWC meeting is required to approve the schedule for the election of the party president. This will be the final step for Rahul Gandhi to be elevated as President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). And as it is unlikely that there will be a contender to challenge Rahul, his election will be complete by mid-December. The decision came after a meeting was held on Saturday. The elevation of Rahul Gandhi will mean that he will also be heading the final phase of the politically crucial Gujarat elections as AICC chief. Rahul's taking charge of the party will bring the end of an era of Sonia Gandi heading as party chief and it will end a long apprenticeship that saw Rahul being named vice-president in January 2013.

Congress will start process to make Rahul Gandhi chief on Monday

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday (November 20)&nbsp;to finalise the schedule of the organisational elections of the Congress party, sources confirmed.</p>

<p>The meeting will take place at 10:30 am.</p>

<p>Sources also indicated that in all probability Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi would be elevated as the President of the Congress before December 5.</p>

<p>Sources also said that the elevation is not going to be delayed any further. The CWC is expected to adopt the resolution to make Rahul Gandhi Congress president on Monday which would subsequently be ratified by the All India Congress Committee. As per the rules of the Congress constitution,&nbsp;the final ratification has to be done by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).<br />
<br />
Sonia Gandhi&rsquo;s elevation as the President by CWC was challenged by Jitendra Prasad which led to an election.</p>

<p>Earlier there were speculations that Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s elevation has been put off but the sources inside Congress confirmed that no such decision had been taken.</p>

<p>The CWC can also be expected to look at the Gujarat elections but it would be peripheral.</p>

<p>It is for this reason that the agenda of the CWC has been kept open.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi has been the longest serving President of the grand old party. She assumed office in 1998 and has continued since then.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Congress President Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee on Sunday morning to finalise the schedule of the organisational elections of the Congress party

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday (November 20) to finalise the schedule of the organisational elections of the Congress party, sources confirmed. The meeting will take place at 10:30 am. Sources also indicated that in all probability Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi would be elevated as the President of the Congress before December 5. Sources also said that the elevation is not going to be delayed any further. The CWC is expected to adopt the resolution to make Rahul Gandhi Congress president on Monday which would subsequently be ratified by the All India Congress Committee. As per the rules of the Congress constitution, the final ratification has to be done by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Sonia Gandhi’s elevation as the President by CWC was challenged by Jitendra Prasad which led to an election. Earlier there were speculations that Rahul Gandhi’s elevation has been put off but the sources inside Congress confirmed that no such decision had been taken. The CWC can also be expected to look at the Gujarat elections but it would be peripheral. It is for this reason that the agenda of the CWC has been kept open. Sonia Gandhi has been the longest serving President of the grand old party. She assumed office in 1998 and has continued since then.

Rahul Gandhi to be made Congress President before December 5: Sources to WION

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-due-in-south-korea-amid-north-korea-tensions-23627" target="_blank">Trump promises to &#39;figure it all out&#39; -- meaning North Korea -- with South Korean President</a></p>

<p>US President Donald Trump headed to Seoul Tuesday vowing to &quot;figure it all out&quot; with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, despite the two allies&#39; differences on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North.</p>

<p>&quot;Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman,&quot; Trump tweeted early Tuesday from Japan, the first stop of his Asian tour, adding: &quot;We will figure it all out!&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/enclosed-sonia-gandhis-letter-to-show-truth-behind-claims-against-me-jaya-jaitly-on-her-book-23628" target="_blank">Jaya Jaitly says Sonia Gandhi facilitated framing of corruption charges against her</a></p>

<p>Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has said the then UPA government and especially Congress President Sonia Gandhi had facilitated the framing of corruption charges against her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitly is accused of accepting a Rs two-lakh bribe in 2001.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She has made her accusations in her memoir &#39;Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life&#39;, due to be released today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/texas-church-shooting-witness-he-wouldnt-stop-23629" target="_blank">Texas church shooting witness: &#39;He wouldn&#39;t stop&#39;</a></p>

<p>Witnesses have described the horror that unfolded after 26-year-old gunman Devin Patrick Kelley started shooting at a Sunday church service congregation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;He wouldn&#39;t stop,&quot; said one.&nbsp;She described the one image seared into her mind: the gunman&#39;s body convulsions as he emptied his assault rifle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/nitish-bats-for-reservation-in-private-sector-23617" target="_blank">Bihar Chief Minister Nitish says time for reservation in private sector</a></p>

<p>&quot;It`s my opinion that there must be reservation in the private sector too. There must be a debate on this at the national level,&quot; Nitish said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-mamata-calls-gst-great-selfish-tax-23591" target="_blank">Mamata calls GST &#39;Great Selfish Tax&#39;</a></p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi started by calling it the &quot;Gabbar Singh Tax&quot;. Taking her cue from him, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has now called it the &quot;Great Selfish Tax&quot;.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Trump promises to 'figure it all out' -- meaning North Korea -- with South Korean President US President Donald Trump headed to Seoul Tuesday vowing to "figure it all out" with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, despite the two allies' differences on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North. "Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman," Trump tweeted early Tuesday from Japan, the first stop of his Asian tour, adding: "We will figure it all out!" Jaya Jaitly says Sonia Gandhi facilitated framing of corruption charges against her Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has said the then UPA government and especially Congress President Sonia Gandhi had facilitated the framing of corruption charges against her. Jaitly is accused of accepting a Rs two-lakh bribe in 2001. She has made her accusations in her memoir 'Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life', due to be released today. Texas church shooting witness: 'He wouldn't stop' Witnesses have described the horror that unfolded after 26-year-old gunman Devin Patrick Kelley started shooting at a Sunday church service congregation. "He wouldn't stop," said one. She described the one image seared into her mind: the gunman's body convulsions as he emptied his assault rifle. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish says time for reservation in private sector "It`s my opinion that there must be reservation in the private sector too. There must be a debate on this at the national level," Nitish said. Mamata calls GST 'Great Selfish Tax' Rahul Gandhi started by calling it the "Gabbar Singh Tax". Taking her cue from him, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has now called it the "Great Selfish Tax".

WION morning news brief, November 7, 2017

<p>Former Samata Party president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Jaya%20Jaitly">Jaya Jaitly</a>&nbsp;has entailed her reasons for enclosing a letter, written by Congress President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Sonia%20Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</a>&nbsp;to former finance minister P. Chidambaram, in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=memoir">memoir</a>&nbsp;due to be released on Tuesday, and hinted that the UPA-led government in 2004, and particularly Gandhi was involved in facilitating the framing of corruption charges against her.</p>

<p>The author has made these claims in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=memoir">memoir</a>, &#39;Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life&#39;. The book hints at the links between Gandhi and the Tehelka news portal, particularly in the Tehelka sting &#39;Operation Westend.&#39;</p>

<p>&quot;I included the letter in my book to show the truth behind accusations against me that I met with wrong people and assured them of my help in exchange for money. The wrong people were fake. Neither did I give them any assurances, nor asked and received any money. I have been going to court for nine years for the wrong allegations,&quot; Jaitly .</p>

<p>Jaitly referred to the ongoing nine-year-long corruption case against her, wherein the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet alleging that she had accepted a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in 2001. She was alleged to have accepted the money in exchange for persuading former defence minister George Fernandes to award the contract of hand-held thermal imagers to a company named West End International.</p>

<p>The case was registered on the basis of a sting, &#39;Operation Westend,&#39; conducted by news portal Tehelka in 2000, purportedly exposing alleged corruption in defence deals.</p>

<p>There are, in total, three letters enclosed in the book. They are - a letter by Tehelka directors and a letter by Tehelka Financiers - First Global Directors addressed to Gandhi and the third letter from Gandhi to Chidambaram on behalf of Tehelka and its financiers. The book further hints that Sonia tried to convince Chidambaram to shield the Tehelka financiers.</p>

<p>&quot;I positioned the letter in such a way to show that a letter was written to someone who is even above the prime minister, who then wrote to the finance minister relating their problem, and immediately the problem was solved. This is the reality unlike the allegations against me which are fake,&quot; Jaitly said, and added, &quot;to save a person, who paid Tehelka to conduct a sting operation, there must be some connection.&quot;</p>

<p>The letter was written merely months after the UPA formed the government, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Sonia%20Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</a>&nbsp;declined the post of the prime minister, which was passed on to Dr Manmohan Singh.</p>

<p>&quot;Without having any official post in the government,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=Sonia%20Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</a>&nbsp;writing letter to the finance minister shows how much power she held,&quot; Jaitly said, and added, &quot;Unlike the usual delay in official matters, an action was taken within five days. They were so energetic. Was this the only work they had after coming in the Centre?&quot;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari reacted to the entire controversy and said &quot;Tehelka&quot; was targeted by the NDA-BJP government for exposing the dirty dealings of their associates.</p>

<p>&quot;In 2001, a news portal called Tehelka carried out a sting, in which they exposed the dirty dealings of a number of eminences associated with the NDA-BJP government, including the then BJP President Bangaru Laxman. He was caught on candid camera taking money for allegedly doing favours in a defence deal. Subsequently, the NDA-BJP govt came down like a tonne of bricks on that news portal,&quot; Tewari claimed.</p>

<p>The former Union Minister alleged that the news portal was hounded by the NDA government, due to which the UPA government was forced to intervene.</p>

<p>&quot;It was the classical case of shooting the messenger rather than listening to the message. Exactly in the manner in which today the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income-Tax department is being abused by this government against its political opponents. In fact, a commissioner inquiry was constituted that got nowhere and on the other hand, a news organisation which had done its legitimate duty was hounded to the ground. Under those circumstances, an intervention with the right intent for the freedom of speech and expression was done at that point of time to ensure that vendetta and witch hunt comes to an end,&quot; Tewari said.&nbsp;</p>


The accusation is made in her memoir 'Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life', due to be released today

Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly has entailed her reasons for enclosing a letter, written by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to former finance minister P. Chidambaram, in her memoir due to be released on Tuesday, and hinted that the UPA-led government in 2004, and particularly Gandhi was involved in facilitating the framing of corruption charges against her. The author has made these claims in her memoir, 'Life Among the Scorpions: Memoirs of an Indian Woman in Public Life'. The book hints at the links between Gandhi and the Tehelka news portal, particularly in the Tehelka sting 'Operation Westend.' "I included the letter in my book to show the truth behind accusations against me that I met with wrong people and assured them of my help in exchange for money. The wrong people were fake. Neither did I give them any assurances, nor asked and received any money. I have been going to court for nine years for the wrong allegations," Jaitly . Jaitly referred to the ongoing nine-year-long corruption case against her, wherein the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet alleging that she had accepted a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in 2001. She was alleged to have accepted the money in exchange for persuading former defence minister George Fernandes to award the contract of hand-held thermal imagers to a company named West End International. The case was registered on the basis of a sting, 'Operation Westend,' conducted by news portal Tehelka in 2000, purportedly exposing alleged corruption in defence deals. There are, in total, three letters enclosed in the book. They are - a letter by Tehelka directors and a letter by Tehelka Financiers - First Global Directors addressed to Gandhi and the third letter from Gandhi to Chidambaram on behalf of Tehelka and its financiers. The book further hints that Sonia tried to convince Chidambaram to shield the Tehelka financiers. "I positioned the letter in such a way to show that a letter was written to someone who is even above the prime minister, who then wrote to the finance minister relating their problem, and immediately the problem was solved. This is the reality unlike the allegations against me which are fake," Jaitly said, and added, "to save a person, who paid Tehelka to conduct a sting operation, there must be some connection." The letter was written merely months after the UPA formed the government, and Sonia Gandhi declined the post of the prime minister, which was passed on to Dr Manmohan Singh. "Without having any official post in the government, Sonia Gandhi writing letter to the finance minister shows how much power she held," Jaitly said, and added, "Unlike the usual delay in official matters, an action was taken within five days. They were so energetic. Was this the only work they had after coming in the Centre?" Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari reacted to the entire controversy and said "Tehelka" was targeted by the NDA-BJP government for exposing the dirty dealings of their associates. "In 2001, a news portal called Tehelka carried out a sting, in which they exposed the dirty dealings of a number of eminences associated with the NDA-BJP government, including the then BJP President Bangaru Laxman. He was caught on candid camera taking money for allegedly doing favours in a defence deal. Subsequently, the NDA-BJP govt came down like a tonne of bricks on that news portal," Tewari claimed. The former Union Minister alleged that the news portal was hounded by the NDA government, due to which the UPA government was forced to intervene. "It was the classical case of shooting the messenger rather than listening to the message. Exactly in the manner in which today the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income-Tax department is being abused by this government against its political opponents. In fact, a commissioner inquiry was constituted that got nowhere and on the other hand, a news organisation which had done its legitimate duty was hounded to the ground. Under those circumstances, an intervention with the right intent for the freedom of speech and expression was done at that point of time to ensure that vendetta and witch hunt comes to an end," Tewari said.

Jaya Jaitly says Sonia Gandhi facilitated framing of corruption charges against her

<p>Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government&nbsp;saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of &quot;narrow nationalism&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The liberal, tolerant Indian ethos that former prime minister late Indira Gandhi embodied is being rejected and repudiated,&quot; she said in a&nbsp;speech at a function in which the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration was conferred on Carnatic musician T M Krishna.</p>

<p>She also said that the idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by the &quot;rising intolerance&quot; that one witnessed today. &quot;The country&#39;s heritage is now in the hands of those who are bent upon rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people and stifling independent thinking,&quot; Gandhi said without naming any party or individual.</p>

<p>&quot;We must be undaunted, unafraid, and uncompromising against the forces of darkness that seek to engulf our land,&quot; she added.</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi, she said, led India through major transformations and in her 16-year long battle against poverty and social injustice, she gave her all to make the country self-reliant in agriculture, industry and technology.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi said that after Operation Bluestar, when she was advised to transfer some bodyguards out of her service, she refused, saying that she would not judge anyone on the basis of religion.</p>


Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of "narrow nationalism".

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of "narrow nationalism". "The liberal, tolerant Indian ethos that former prime minister late Indira Gandhi embodied is being rejected and repudiated," she said in a speech at a function in which the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration was conferred on Carnatic musician T M Krishna. She also said that the idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by the "rising intolerance" that one witnessed today. "The country's heritage is now in the hands of those who are bent upon rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people and stifling independent thinking," Gandhi said without naming any party or individual. "We must be undaunted, unafraid, and uncompromising against the forces of darkness that seek to engulf our land," she added. Indira Gandhi, she said, led India through major transformations and in her 16-year long battle against poverty and social injustice, she gave her all to make the country self-reliant in agriculture, industry and technology. Sonia Gandhi said that after Operation Bluestar, when she was advised to transfer some bodyguards out of her service, she refused, saying that she would not judge anyone on the basis of religion.

Sonia Gandhi attacks Modi government, says country getting divided in the name of narrow nationalism

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was today rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset.<br />
<br />
Son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter she is &quot;much better&quot; and there is &quot;nothing to worry&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ma was in Shimla &amp; caught a stomach bug so we got her back. Nothing to worry, she&#39;s much better. Thanks for the tremendous love and concern.</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/923917355716972544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management) of the Ganga Ram Hospital said that Gandhi, 70, is under observation.<br />
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&quot;Sonia Gandhi was brought to the hospital at 5 pm today. She has been found to be suffering from stomach upset and has been admitted for observation,&quot; said Rana in a statement.<br />
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According to sources, the Congress president was rushed to the hospital in an air-ambulance from Shimla, where she had gone for a vacation.<br />
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A team of doctors from the hospital was deputed to bring her back from Shimla.&nbsp;</p>


Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was today rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset. Son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter she is "much better" and there is "nothing to worry". Ma was in Shimla & caught a stomach bug so we got her back. Nothing to worry, she's much better. Thanks for the tremendous love and concern. — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 27, 2017 × DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management) of the Ganga Ram Hospital said that Gandhi, 70, is under observation. "Sonia Gandhi was brought to the hospital at 5 pm today. She has been found to be suffering from stomach upset and has been admitted for observation," said Rana in a statement. According to sources, the Congress president was rushed to the hospital in an air-ambulance from Shimla, where she had gone for a vacation. A team of doctors from the hospital was deputed to bring her back from Shimla.

Sonia Gandhi hospitalised, Rahul Gandhi tweets 'much better'

<p>Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly.</p>

<p>The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution.</p>

<p>However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn&#39;t commented on his impending&nbsp;elevation as the party chief.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party&#39;s highest decision-making body -&nbsp; is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi,&nbsp;the present&nbsp;Congress president, was elected in 1998.</p>


Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending?elevation as the party chief

Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly. The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution. However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending elevation as the party chief. The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party's highest decision-making body - is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon. Sonia Gandhi, the present Congress president, was elected in 1998.

Rahul Gandhi to be Congress chief, hints Sonia

<p>Congress president and Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to use his party&#39;s majority in the Lok Sabha to pass the much-delayed Women&#39;s Reservation Bill which reserves a third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies.</p>

<p>The women&#39;s reservation bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010. The Congress-led UPA coalition government was in power at the&nbsp;time.</p>

<p>In her letter, Congress president Sonia Gandhi points out that since 2010, the women&#39;s reservation bill has languished in the Lok Sabha for one reason or the other.</p>

<p>In July, the CPI-M had urged the ruling NDA alliance to clear the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As did Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan who said the bill should be passed &quot;respectfully&quot;&nbsp;without quarrelling.</p>

<p>The 2008 bill has been opposed by legislators reluctant to relinquish power in their&nbsp;constituency.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) also support&nbsp;the bill.</p>

<p>The Janata Dal United (JD(U)), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party are the main opponents of the bill. Their legislators have gone to the extent of tearing the bill in Parliament.</p>

<p><strong>Here is the full text of Sonia Gandhi&#39;s letter:</strong></p>

<p>Dear Prime Minister,</p>

<p>You may recall that the Rajya Sabha had passed the Women&rsquo;s Reservation Bill on March 9, 2010. Since then, however, it has languished in the Lok Sabha for one reason or another.</p>

<p>I am writing to request you to take advantage of your majority in the Lok Sabha to now get the Women&rsquo;s Reservation Bill passed in the Lower House as well. The Congress Party has always and will continue to support this legislation which will be a significant step forward in the empowerment of women. You may recall that it was, in fact, the Congress Party and its late leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi who first mooted the provision for reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in the Constitution Amendment Bills which the Opposition parties thwarted in the Rajya Sabha in 1989 but later were passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1993 becoming the 73rd and 74th Amendments.</p>

<p>With Regards,</p>

<p>Yours sincerely,</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Congress president and Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to use his party's majority in the Lok Sabha to pass the much-delayed Women's Reservation Bill

Congress president and Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to use his party's majority in the Lok Sabha to pass the much-delayed Women's Reservation Bill which reserves a third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies. The women's reservation bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010. The Congress-led UPA coalition government was in power at the time. In her letter, Congress president Sonia Gandhi points out that since 2010, the women's reservation bill has languished in the Lok Sabha for one reason or the other. In July, the CPI-M had urged the ruling NDA alliance to clear the bill. As did Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan who said the bill should be passed "respectfully" without quarrelling. The 2008 bill has been opposed by legislators reluctant to relinquish power in their constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) also support the bill. The Janata Dal United (JD(U)), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party are the main opponents of the bill. Their legislators have gone to the extent of tearing the bill in Parliament. Here is the full text of Sonia Gandhi's letter: Dear Prime Minister, You may recall that the Rajya Sabha had passed the Women’s Reservation Bill on March 9, 2010. Since then, however, it has languished in the Lok Sabha for one reason or another. I am writing to request you to take advantage of your majority in the Lok Sabha to now get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the Lower House as well. The Congress Party has always and will continue to support this legislation which will be a significant step forward in the empowerment of women. You may recall that it was, in fact, the Congress Party and its late leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi who first mooted the provision for reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in the Constitution Amendment Bills which the Opposition parties thwarted in the Rajya Sabha in 1989 but later were passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1993 becoming the 73rd and 74th Amendments. With Regards, Yours sincerely, Sonia Gandhi

Women's Reservation Bill languishing in Lok Sabha: Sonia Gandhi's letter to PM Modi

<p>After the special CBI court announced a guilty verdict against Ram Rahim Singh for the rape of two followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, large parts of Haryana and Punjab have witnessed unprecedented violence claiming 29&nbsp;lives so far.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the violence and urged everyone to maintain peace.</p>

<p>The news of guru&#39;s arrest and the subsequent violence has generated reactions from across the political spectrum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj has spoken in defence of the guru.</p>

<p>He said it is a ploy to malign the Indian culture.</p>

<p>The BJP leader asked why&nbsp;crores of people standing with the guru are not being heard.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One person alleging sexual exploitation but crores stand with him today,why those crores of ppl are not being heard?: Sakshi Maharaj,BJP MP <a href="https://t.co/GKEkgwwtRU">pic.twitter.com/GKEkgwwtRU</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/901091455996903424">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He added that if bigger incidnets take place, the courts will also be repsonsible along with the Dera people.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If even bigger incidents take place, court will also be responsible not just Dera people: Sakshi Maharaj,BJP MP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamRahimVerdict?src=hash">#RamRahimVerdict</a> <a href="https://t.co/10OqrcN5DV">pic.twitter.com/10OqrcN5DV</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/901092274443960320">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the violence and appealed for peace.</p>

<p>The ruling BJP has said that the violence should not be linked with the saffron party.</p>

<p>Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that Haryana chief minister should be sacked.</p>

<p>Communist Party of India (CPI) blamed the BJP-led Haryana government for the violence. It said that the state government should have anticipated such a situation.</p>


BJP's Sakshi Maharaj said that crores of supporters of Baba Ram Rahim should also be heard along with the rape survivor

After the special CBI court announced a guilty verdict against Ram Rahim Singh for the rape of two followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, large parts of Haryana and Punjab have witnessed unprecedented violence claiming 29 lives so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the violence and urged everyone to maintain peace. The news of guru's arrest and the subsequent violence has generated reactions from across the political spectrum. Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj has spoken in defence of the guru. He said it is a ploy to malign the Indian culture. The BJP leader asked why crores of people standing with the guru are not being heard. One person alleging sexual exploitation but crores stand with him today,why those crores of ppl are not being heard?: Sakshi Maharaj,BJP MP pic.twitter.com/GKEkgwwtRU — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017 × He added that if bigger incidnets take place, the courts will also be repsonsible along with the Dera people. If even bigger incidents take place, court will also be responsible not just Dera people: Sakshi Maharaj,BJP MP #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/10OqrcN5DV — ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017 × Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the violence and appealed for peace. The ruling BJP has said that the violence should not be linked with the saffron party. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that Haryana chief minister should be sacked. Communist Party of India (CPI) blamed the BJP-led Haryana government for the violence. It said that the state government should have anticipated such a situation.

BJP's Sakshi Maharaj defends Baba Ram Rahim, says it is ploy to malign Indian culture

<p>Priyanka Gandhi was diagnosed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/in-fight-against-dengue-fever-researchers-turn-to-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-11346">with dengue</a> on Wednesday evening&nbsp;and admitted in&nbsp;Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.</p>

<p>The 45-year-old daughter of Congress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-prime-minister-narendra-modi-sends-doctor-plane-to-help-sonia-gandhi-4026">president Sonia Gandhi</a>&nbsp;is being&nbsp;treated by chest medicine consultant Dr. Arup Basu, reports said.</p>

<p>Priyanka is reportedly improving, media reports added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year 657 dengue cases have been reported in India with almost 325 patients from India&#39;s national capital.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-first-death-due-to-dengue-this-season-12-year-old-succumbs-19276">A 12-year-old boy&nbsp;succumbed to dengue a few days</a> back which was&nbsp;the first reported fatality&nbsp;due to the vector-borne disease in Delhi.</p>


Congress President Sonia Gandhi's daughter is being treated by chest medicine consultant Dr. Arup Basu

Priyanka Gandhi was diagnosed with dengue on Wednesday evening and admitted in Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. The 45-year-old daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi is being treated by chest medicine consultant Dr. Arup Basu, reports said. Priyanka is reportedly improving, media reports added. This year 657 dengue cases have been reported in India with almost 325 patients from India's national capital. A 12-year-old boy succumbed to dengue a few days back which was the first reported fatality due to the vector-borne disease in Delhi.

Priyanka Gandhi diagnosed with dengue, admitted in hospital

<p>The Gujarat Congress legislators, camping at a private resort near here, would be flown back to their home state directly and not to Delhi as has been reported in a section of the media, party sources said here today.</p>

<p>The Gujarat Congress had sent 44 of its MLAs here on July 29 to fend off the &quot;poaching&quot; attempts by the BJP, ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha poll in that state, in which Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, is contesting.</p>

<p>Denying the reports that the MLAs would first be flown to Delhi to meet Sonia, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters here that they would be returning to Gujarat &quot;directly&quot;.</p>

<p>However, he declined to disclose when would the MLAs return to their home state.</p>

<p>&quot;One thing that has been decided is that all of us (the 44 MLAs) will fly to Gujarat, not Delhi,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Gohil alleged that it was the BJP, which was spreading &quot;canards&quot; that the Congress MLAs would first be flown to the national capital to meet Sonia.</p>

<p>He also charged that the saffron party was spreading &quot;false reports&quot; that the MLAs would use the &#39;NOTA&#39; option in the upcoming Rajya Sabha poll to defeat Patel.</p>

<p>The Congress has objected to the &#39;NOTA&#39; option in the Rajya Sabha poll, which is being seen as a prestige battle for the party in Gujarat.</p>

<p>Gohil asserted that all the Congress MLAs were &quot;united&quot; and that they would vote for Patel in the August 8 election.</p>

<p>Six of the 57 Congress MLAs in Gujarat have quit the party recently with three of them joining the BJP on July 28.</p>


It is, however, not clear when will the 44 Congress MLAs return to their home state

The Gujarat Congress legislators, camping at a private resort near here, would be flown back to their home state directly and not to Delhi as has been reported in a section of the media, party sources said here today. The Gujarat Congress had sent 44 of its MLAs here on July 29 to fend off the "poaching" attempts by the BJP, ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha poll in that state, in which Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, is contesting. Denying the reports that the MLAs would first be flown to Delhi to meet Sonia, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters here that they would be returning to Gujarat "directly". However, he declined to disclose when would the MLAs return to their home state. "One thing that has been decided is that all of us (the 44 MLAs) will fly to Gujarat, not Delhi," he said. Gohil alleged that it was the BJP, which was spreading "canards" that the Congress MLAs would first be flown to the national capital to meet Sonia. He also charged that the saffron party was spreading "false reports" that the MLAs would use the 'NOTA' option in the upcoming Rajya Sabha poll to defeat Patel. The Congress has objected to the 'NOTA' option in the Rajya Sabha poll, which is being seen as a prestige battle for the party in Gujarat. Gohil asserted that all the Congress MLAs were "united" and that they would vote for Patel in the August 8 election. Six of the 57 Congress MLAs in Gujarat have quit the party recently with three of them joining the BJP on July 28.

Congress MLAs camping in Bengaluru resort to fly back to Gujarat

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi&rsquo;s political secretary Ahmed Patel, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that BJP is using money power and central investigative agencies to win one Rajya Sabha election.</p>

<p>&ldquo;It is arrogance of power. BJP cannot digest power and for this reason, it is using everything under the sun to defeat me,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi&rsquo;s secretary but as a Congress candidate.</p>

<p>Ahmed Patel told WION that his election has been made a matter of prestige but will only end up boosting the morale of the Congress.</p>

<p>&ldquo;BJP thinks that by creating pressure like this they will win Gujarat. Instead of demoralizing us, it has united the leaders in the state,&rdquo; said Ahmed Patel.</p>

<p>When WION asked that the current political instability could have been avoided by ensuring that Shanker Sinh Vaghela didn&rsquo;t leave the Party, he said, &rdquo;We offered him everything except PCC seat. In fact, a day before filing the nomination, I offered him my seat. He even declined that.&rdquo;</p>

<p>When WION asked why has your election become a matter of honour for the BJP top brass, he said that this can only be answered by BJP president Amit Shah but said that he will not allow BJP to demoralize Congress before the assembly elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are slated for polls in December of 2017. Congress is in power in Himachal Pradesh but Gujarat which once looked ripe for taking by the Congress has completely been overturned by the aggression BJP has shown during Rajya Sabha polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From past 2 years, Hardik Patel has emerged as a new actor in the state because of Patidar agitation and mishandling of it led to removal of then chief minister Anandiben Patel.</p>

<p>Congress has cried foul after Income Tax department conducted raids on the premises of the Congress Karnataka minister Shivkumar on whose property Gujarat MLAs have been staying after they were rushed out of the home state fearing they might get poached.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahmed Patel is a four&nbsp;time Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and he was nominated record 5th time to contest the elections by Congress which generally doesn&rsquo;t give more than 4 terms of Rajya Sabha to any member.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi?s secretary but as a Congress candidate

Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that BJP is using money power and central investigative agencies to win one Rajya Sabha election. “It is arrogance of power. BJP cannot digest power and for this reason, it is using everything under the sun to defeat me,” he said. He also said that his election should not be linked to Sonia Gandhi as he is not contesting the elections as Sonia Gandhi’s secretary but as a Congress candidate. Ahmed Patel told WION that his election has been made a matter of prestige but will only end up boosting the morale of the Congress. “BJP thinks that by creating pressure like this they will win Gujarat. Instead of demoralizing us, it has united the leaders in the state,” said Ahmed Patel. When WION asked that the current political instability could have been avoided by ensuring that Shanker Sinh Vaghela didn’t leave the Party, he said, ”We offered him everything except PCC seat. In fact, a day before filing the nomination, I offered him my seat. He even declined that.” When WION asked why has your election become a matter of honour for the BJP top brass, he said that this can only be answered by BJP president Amit Shah but said that he will not allow BJP to demoralize Congress before the assembly elections. Both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are slated for polls in December of 2017. Congress is in power in Himachal Pradesh but Gujarat which once looked ripe for taking by the Congress has completely been overturned by the aggression BJP has shown during Rajya Sabha polls. From past 2 years, Hardik Patel has emerged as a new actor in the state because of Patidar agitation and mishandling of it led to removal of then chief minister Anandiben Patel. Congress has cried foul after Income Tax department conducted raids on the premises of the Congress Karnataka minister Shivkumar on whose property Gujarat MLAs have been staying after they were rushed out of the home state fearing they might get poached. Ahmed Patel is a four time Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and he was nominated record 5th time to contest the elections by Congress which generally doesn’t give more than 4 terms of Rajya Sabha to any member.

BJP using central agencies to win one Rajya Sabha seat: Ahmed Patel to WION

<p>Describing the presidential elections as the opposition&#39;s fight against a &quot;narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision&quot;, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said the polls election tomorrow demand a &quot;vote of conscience&quot;.</p>

<p>The Congress president was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in the Indian capital New Delhi where its presidential and vice presidential nominees, Meira Kumar and Gopal Krishna Gandhi were formally introduced.</p>

<p>&quot;We know Meira Kumar as the former speaker. But many had not met Gopal Gandhi. It was a sort of formal introduction with them,&quot; said CPI-M&#39;s Sitaram Yechury.</p>

<p>The vice presidential poll will be held on August 5.</p>

<p>&quot;We must have confidence in the values we believe in. This election represents a clash of ideas, a conflict of disparate values. The election demands a vote of conscience to preserve the India that the Mahatma and the illustrious generation of freedom fighters, joined by thousands upon the numbers of ordinary men and women, fought for,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>&quot;We cannot and must not let India be hostage to those who wish to impose upon it a narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision,&quot; Sonia Gandhi said.</p>

<p>The UPA chairperson said the numbers may be stacked against them, but &quot;the battle must be fought and fought hard&quot;.</p>

<p>She said that the presence of representatives from various political parties to support Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi&#39;s candidature showed that the fight for &quot;an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We must stand more aware than ever of who we are, what we fought for in our Independence struggle and what future we want for ourselves.&quot; She said the presence of representatives from different parties to support Kumar and Gopal Gandhi confirms that &quot;the fight for an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged,&quot; said the Congress president.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi said Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi had distinguished themselves throughout their long careers with tremendous dignity and commitment.</p>

<p>&quot;Through their work and their lives they have also advocated those very values and principles that have defined and guided India for the last 70 years,&quot; she told the gathering.</p>

<p>Bihar&#39;s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which has broken ranks with its ally Congress and is supporting the BJP-led NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, stayed away from the Opposition meeting.</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t think it is correct for our party to attend the meeting. I myself met Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Opposition&#39;s vice-Presidential candidate and conveyed to him that, in the wake of the current situation it won&#39;t be good for us to attend a meeting called by Opposition. Our relation with Meira Kumar is very old and she will also be there. It won`t look good on our part to go there,&quot; JD(U) leader Sharad Kumar said.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Sonia Gandhi was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in New Delhi

Describing the presidential elections as the opposition's fight against a "narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision", Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said the polls election tomorrow demand a "vote of conscience". The Congress president was addressing a gathering of opposition parties in the Indian capital New Delhi where its presidential and vice presidential nominees, Meira Kumar and Gopal Krishna Gandhi were formally introduced. "We know Meira Kumar as the former speaker. But many had not met Gopal Gandhi. It was a sort of formal introduction with them," said CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury. The vice presidential poll will be held on August 5. "We must have confidence in the values we believe in. This election represents a clash of ideas, a conflict of disparate values. The election demands a vote of conscience to preserve the India that the Mahatma and the illustrious generation of freedom fighters, joined by thousands upon the numbers of ordinary men and women, fought for," she said. "We cannot and must not let India be hostage to those who wish to impose upon it a narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision," Sonia Gandhi said. The UPA chairperson said the numbers may be stacked against them, but "the battle must be fought and fought hard". She said that the presence of representatives from various political parties to support Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi's candidature showed that the fight for "an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged". "We must stand more aware than ever of who we are, what we fought for in our Independence struggle and what future we want for ourselves." She said the presence of representatives from different parties to support Kumar and Gopal Gandhi confirms that "the fight for an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged," said the Congress president. Sonia Gandhi said Meira Kumar and Gopal Gandhi had distinguished themselves throughout their long careers with tremendous dignity and commitment. "Through their work and their lives they have also advocated those very values and principles that have defined and guided India for the last 70 years," she told the gathering. Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which has broken ranks with its ally Congress and is supporting the BJP-led NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, stayed away from the Opposition meeting. "I don't think it is correct for our party to attend the meeting. I myself met Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the Opposition's vice-Presidential candidate and conveyed to him that, in the wake of the current situation it won't be good for us to attend a meeting called by Opposition. Our relation with Meira Kumar is very old and she will also be there. It won`t look good on our part to go there," JD(U) leader Sharad Kumar said.

Presidential polls fight against narrow minded, communal vision: Sonia Gandhi

<p>Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Friday said his son Tejashwi,&nbsp;accused of corruption,&nbsp;would not resign as Bihar deputy chief minister. He also dismissed reports of a rift in the &#39;mahagatbandhan&#39;, the JD(U), RJD, and Congress alliance that rules the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The Vidhan Mandal of our party has taken a decision that Tejashwi Yadav will not resign,&quot; Lalu told ANI.</p>

<p>&quot;An FIR is not sufficient reason for the resignation,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The RJD chief said the raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on himself and his son were&nbsp;an attempt by the BJP to break the grand alliance.</p>

<p>&quot;For us the priority is the Presidential elections. There are reports of rift in the alliance. Media reports are showing that Sonia <em>ji</em> has held talks with me and Nitish ji, all this is false. Our alliance is unbreakable. The RJD will not give the BJP and the RSS any space to enter&nbsp;Bihar.&nbsp;This song and dance with the CBI reports and the ED reports is an attempt by the BJP to break our alliance in Bihar,&quot; Lalu Prasad said.</p>

<p>&quot;All tangible and intangible assets of Lalu Yadav and his family are in public domain. The RJD will not let anybody break our alliance,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>The RJD chief added that he and his family have already issued their clarification on the corruption charges that have been filed by the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI).</p>

<p>&quot;Whatever accusations have been made against me and my family, we have already issued a clarification in the press conference. We will give our responses to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate whenever they call us,&quot; said Lalu.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi on Friday called Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, news reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The calls were made, the reports said, to save the &#39;mahagatbandhan&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The news reports quoted Congress sources as saying they thought that now that Sonia had spoken to Nitish and Lalu, things would be alright in a few days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The alliance has come under severe strain ever since Lalu, his wife Rabri, and his son Tejashwi were booked by the CBI on corruption charges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CBI alleges Lalu had accepted a bribe in return for an IRCTC contract that he awarded to a hotel company. Lalu was railway minister at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The JD(U) meanwhile has been calling for Tejashwi&#39;s resignation as deputy chief minister of Bihar. There is increased&nbsp;pressure on chief minister Nitish Kumar to sack Tejashwi to protect an image of clean governance.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The JD(U) has been calling for Tejashwi's, Lalu's son, resignation as deputy chief minister of Bihar

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Friday said his son Tejashwi, accused of corruption, would not resign as Bihar deputy chief minister. He also dismissed reports of a rift in the 'mahagatbandhan', the JD(U), RJD, and Congress alliance that rules the state. "The Vidhan Mandal of our party has taken a decision that Tejashwi Yadav will not resign," Lalu told ANI. "An FIR is not sufficient reason for the resignation," he said. The RJD chief said the raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on himself and his son were an attempt by the BJP to break the grand alliance. "For us the priority is the Presidential elections. There are reports of rift in the alliance. Media reports are showing that Sonia ji has held talks with me and Nitish ji, all this is false. Our alliance is unbreakable. The RJD will not give the BJP and the RSS any space to enter Bihar. This song and dance with the CBI reports and the ED reports is an attempt by the BJP to break our alliance in Bihar," Lalu Prasad said. "All tangible and intangible assets of Lalu Yadav and his family are in public domain. The RJD will not let anybody break our alliance," he added. The RJD chief added that he and his family have already issued their clarification on the corruption charges that have been filed by the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI). "Whatever accusations have been made against me and my family, we have already issued a clarification in the press conference. We will give our responses to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate whenever they call us," said Lalu. Sonia Gandhi on Friday called Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, news reports said. The calls were made, the reports said, to save the 'mahagatbandhan'. The news reports quoted Congress sources as saying they thought that now that Sonia had spoken to Nitish and Lalu, things would be alright in a few days. The alliance has come under severe strain ever since Lalu, his wife Rabri, and his son Tejashwi were booked by the CBI on corruption charges. The CBI alleges Lalu had accepted a bribe in return for an IRCTC contract that he awarded to a hotel company. Lalu was railway minister at the time. The JD(U) meanwhile has been calling for Tejashwi's resignation as deputy chief minister of Bihar. There is increased pressure on chief minister Nitish Kumar to sack Tejashwi to protect an image of clean governance.

Bihar 'mahagatbandhan' unbreakable, son Tejashwi will not resign: Lalu

<p>Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination papers on Wednesday with Congress president Sonia Gandhi by her side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also present were former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Opposition Presidential candidate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeiraKumar?src=hash">#MeiraKumar</a> files her nomination <a href="https://t.co/MGc1LJYmFo">pic.twitter.com/MGc1LJYmFo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/879946339584319488">June 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Before filing her nomination papers, ANI reported, Kumar said it is upsetting to see casteism still eating away at India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It is very upsetting, unfortunate that a country like India, which wants to advance in every aspect, is using a mentality which is so narrow and dividing, that too also when we are fighting for presidentship,&quot; ANI reported her as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter, saying Meira represents the values that bind the nation together.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&amp;a ppl.Proud to have <a href="https://twitter.com/meira_kumar">@meira_kumar</a> ji as our candidate <a href="https://t.co/R7M5udN44y">https://t.co/R7M5udN44y</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/879937175516717057">June 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&amp;a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate,&quot; he wrote</p>

<p>The Presidential elections are set to take place on July 17 and counting will take place on July 24.&nbsp;</p>


Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders were also present

Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination papers on Wednesday with Congress president Sonia Gandhi by her side. Also present were former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior Opposition leaders. Opposition Presidential candidate #MeiraKumar files her nomination pic.twitter.com/MGc1LJYmFo — ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2017 × Before filing her nomination papers, ANI reported, Kumar said it is upsetting to see casteism still eating away at India. "It is very upsetting, unfortunate that a country like India, which wants to advance in every aspect, is using a mentality which is so narrow and dividing, that too also when we are fighting for presidentship," ANI reported her as saying. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter, saying Meira represents the values that bind the nation together. Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate https://t.co/R7M5udN44y — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 28, 2017 × "Against the ideology of divisiveness she represents the values that bind us as a nation&a ppl.Proud to have @meira_kumar ji as our candidate," he wrote The Presidential elections are set to take place on July 17 and counting will take place on July 24.

Opposition Presidential candidate Meira Kumar files nomination papers with Sonia Gandhi by her side

<p>Sonia Gandhi is likely to step down as Congress president paving the way for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress president when the party holds its internal elections by October 15.</p>

<p>The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party&#39;s highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In her speech at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi exhorted party members to strengthen the organisation and complete the organisational polls with &quot;speed and sincerity&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We must strengthen our organisation. The ongoing organisational elections must be completed with the utmost speed and sincerity,&quot; she said at the meeting, ahead of the CWC approving the poll schedule.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked whether the issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi was discussed at the meeting, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad replied in the negative.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The schedule for organisational elections has been cleared by the CWC,&quot; Azad said, adding that Rahul&#39;s elevation was not specifically discussed.</p>

<p>The CWC members had in the last meeting in November unanimously expressed &quot;strong sentiment&quot; for Rahul&#39;s elevation for the first time and may take it further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the November 7 meeting, all members, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leader A K Antony, had made a strong pitch for Rahul to take over the reins of the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress president has created a record by being at the helm of the 130-year-old organisation for nearly two decades since late Sitaram Kesri&#39;s ouster by the CWC in early 1998.</p>

<p>Rahul was appointed party vice president in January 2013 at Congress&#39;s brainstorming session in Jaipur.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15

Sonia Gandhi is likely to step down as Congress president paving the way for Rahul Gandhi to take over as the Congress president when the party holds its internal elections by October 15. The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, today approved the schedule for internal elections under which the party has to complete the exercise by October 15. In her speech at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi exhorted party members to strengthen the organisation and complete the organisational polls with "speed and sincerity". "We must strengthen our organisation. The ongoing organisational elections must be completed with the utmost speed and sincerity," she said at the meeting, ahead of the CWC approving the poll schedule. Asked whether the issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi was discussed at the meeting, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad replied in the negative. "The schedule for organisational elections has been cleared by the CWC," Azad said, adding that Rahul's elevation was not specifically discussed. The CWC members had in the last meeting in November unanimously expressed "strong sentiment" for Rahul's elevation for the first time and may take it further. At the November 7 meeting, all members, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leader A K Antony, had made a strong pitch for Rahul to take over the reins of the party. The Congress president has created a record by being at the helm of the 130-year-old organisation for nearly two decades since late Sitaram Kesri's ouster by the CWC in early 1998. Rahul was appointed party vice president in January 2013 at Congress's brainstorming session in Jaipur. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi likely to replace Sonia Gandhi as Congress president in October

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