NEW DELHI: Even as the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting is underway at the party headquarters here to discuss the poll debacle in Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, the grand old party was hit by a controversy last night over the news reports suggesting that party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may resign from the top posts owing to the defeat in the five states.
However, the Congress was quick to issue a denial and described the news reports as “false and mischievous”.
The controversy erupted after a news report suggested that following the poor show in Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, Sonia Gandhi, ex party chief Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is also incharge of Uttar Pradesh will resign from their posts owing to the poor performance of the party in the elections.
Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the news report and said story of resignations is completely unfair, mischievous and incorrect.
“The news story of alleged resignations being carried on NDTV based on unnamed sources is completely unfair, mischievous and incorrect. It is unfair for a TV channel to carry such unsubstantiated propaganda stories emanating from imaginary sources at the instance of ruling BJP,” he said.
The CWC, party’s highest decision making body started its meeting today at 4 pm at party headquarters here with several senior leaders in attendance to discuss the reason for the poll debacle.
It is pertinent to mention that Priyanka Gandhi was the Congress’ face in Uttar Pradesh and she spearheaded the party’s campaign not only in Uttar Pradesh, but also in Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa.
Even Rahul Gandhi held public meetings in Punjab and other states for the party candidates.
However, the ruling party lost very badly to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, where chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi lost from both his seats of Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur. Senior leaders like Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Vijay Indar Singla and Manpreet Singh Badal also lost in the recently concluded elections.
In Uttarakhand, where the Congress was hoping to make a coming back to power, lost the elections with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and his daughter facing defeat in their constituencies.
The biggest set back was Uttar Pradesh, where even after contesting on all seats, Congress managed to win only two seats.
Congress state unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu lost from Tumkahiraj assembly seat.
Priyanka Gandhi had addressed at least 167 public meetings and carried out door to door campaign in the state, in run up to seven phase elections in the political vital state.
She had also coined the slogan ‘ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ in Uttar Pradesh targeting women and fielded 40 per cent women candidates in elections and promised number of sops for the people.
The party also had high hopes in Goa, but it failed to get the majority.