Raipur (Chhattisgarh), February 24, 2023: The Congress party held a steering committee meeting in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Friday to discuss the leadership of newly elected party president Mallikarjun Kharge and the roadmap for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Former party chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul, and her daughter Priyanka were absent from the meeting, with sources indicating that the family wanted to give Kharge a free hand in making decisions.
Despite their absence, the 85th plenary session of the Congress Party later this week is expected to feature the former first family of the 137-year-old party. The meeting hopes to brainstorm for the 2024 national elections and finalize the strategy for poll tie-ups with other opposition parties to take on the BJP.
The gathering comes in the wake of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a massive cross-country foot march led by Rahul Gandhi that aimed to rally supporters and address the party’s disconnect with voters. Around 15,000 delegates are expected to attend the session to take key decisions that will lay out a roadmap for the elections.
The Congress party has seen a series of election defeats, internal wrangling, and an exodus of leaders in recent years. However, Mallikarjun Kharge’s appointment as party president has been seen as a fresh start for the organization.
