The Congress Working Committee is likely to meet next week to elect the next president of the Congress. The party’s general secretary in-charge of organisation, KC Venugopal, is in talks with all the general secretaries and other senior leaders, including the first family of the party, so that Rahul Gandhi’s successor can be elected without any hassles in the CWC meeting.

After the discussions, Venugopal will send an invite to the members of the CWC for the meeting. As former president, Rahul Gandhi can also attend the meeting.

There are indications that a section of the top leadership prefers a Dalit face to succeed Gandhi. Names of Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge are making the rounds in Congress circles. Rahul Gandhi has clarified that he would not like to nominate his successor but would leave it to the CWC.

The meeting may also decide whether other leaders too should take responsibility and resign so that the AICC, scheduled to meet soon to ratify the CWC’s decisions, can elect a fresh set of leaders to the Congress. Various leaders have said that Rahul Gndhi alone is not responsible for the defeat and members who were in charge of various departments, such as pre-poll alliances, campaign and manifesto, should also review their work during the polls.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she respected her brother’s decision to resign as party president. “Few have the courage that you do, Rahul Gandhi. Deepest respect for your decision,” she said on Twitter.

She had been outspoken against a section of the CWC who, according to her, did nothing to implement the party’s ideals. In the last meeting of the CWC, she said the murderers of the Congress were sitting in the room.

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