Sonia Gandhi hails collective fight of Congress members against "mighty and malevolent" ruling party

New Delhi [India], June 8 : After being unanimously re-elected as the chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party on Saturday, former party president Sonia Gandhi asked the party members to remain proactive and vigilant not to allow the ruling party to muzzle and stifle the Parliament which the NDA has done in the last decade.
She also described the Lok Sabha election results as a "political and moral defeat" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, she said, has lost the moral right to leadership.
She also lauded the party members for demonstrating resilience while contesting the Lok Sabha elections and praised the party for functioning as a collective in the face of the "mighty and malevolent" ruling party.
The newly inducted Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson greeted and congratulated all the newly elected MPs for contesting the polls under challenging circumstances where the incumbent reeled out a campaign against the opposition and its leaders that was "full of lies and defamation."
After being re-elected as the CPP of the party, Sonia Gandhi said in her speech, "The Indian National Congress has once again demonstrated its resilience. It was up against a mighty and malevolent machine that was doing its utmost to destroy us. It tried to cripple us financially."
"It carried out a campaign against us and our leaders that was full of lies and defamation. Many wrote our obituaries! But under the determined leadership of Khargeji, we persevered. He is an inspiration to all of us," she said.
Adding further, she said, "Ours has also been a campaign where we have functioned truly as a collective. To those of our colleagues who contested the elections but lost I extend our full support and tell them that they fought valiantly and did our party proud."
Sonia Gandhi further said that the party has received a renewed opportunity to bring parliamentary politics back on track to where they legitimately belong.
"We have challenging times ahead. We have to be alert to prevent any attempts to increase polarization and erosion of secular and democratic values enshrined in our Constitution by the ruling cabal. All such attempts have to be thwarted," she said.
Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party at the CPP meeting held at the Central Hall of Parliament today.
At a meeting of party MPs, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge proposed Sonia Gandhi's name as the chairperson of the parliamentary party.

The proposal was seconded by Gaurav Gogoi, K Sudhakaran, and Tariq Anwar, after which Gandhi, 77, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in February.
Earlier, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) unanimously urged Rahul Gandhi to take on the mantle of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and he told the party's top brass that he would decide on it "very soon".
After Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as the Chairperson of the CPP, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other party members expressed happiness at the party's prospects under the chairmanship of the former Congress president.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "It is good she (Sonia Gandhi) has been re-elected as CPP and she will keep guiding us."
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also reacted and said, "It is a matter of great happiness. She (Sonia Gandhi) has a lot of experience which will benefit the party and the parliamentary party."
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, "It was a very emotional moment for all of us. She (Sonia Gandhi) took the charge as the CPP."
Congress leader and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy congratulated Sonia Gandhi and also wished that Rahul Gandhi take charge as Lok Sabha floor leader.
"For the last 20 years, Rahul Gandhi has been fighting for the farmers, women, and the youth. Once Rahul Gandhi takes charge (as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha), the entire atmosphere in the country will change," he said.
Jharkhand Congress chief Rajesh Thakur also spoke to ANI and said, "Since the very start we have been receiving the guidance of Sonia Gandhi. As CPP chairman, we will keep receiving the guidance. It is a happy moment for all of us & I want to congratulate her."
Congress MP Deepender Hooda said, "Sonia Gandhi has been re-elected as the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson. With her experience and guidance...she will guide how the Congress, INDIA alliance will move forward."
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also told ANI, "We have shown our trust in Sonia Gandhi...She will keep everyone together as the CPP."
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "We all wanted Sonia Gandhi as the CPP in the Parliament."
Congress leader Kumari Selja said, "Sonia Gandhi was elected as the CPP. We are happy and under her guidance, we all will work.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said that Mallikarjun Kharge proposed to make Sonia Gandhi the chairperson of the CPP.
Several prominent Congress leaders including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and general secretary KC Venugopal are present at the meeting.
Several other leaders including Karti Chidambaram, Rajiv Shukla, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, and Shashi Tharoor are also present Congress Parliamentary Party meeting.
Earlier today, the Congress Working Committee passed the resolution that party MP Rahul Gandhi should be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, sources said on Saturday.
Rahul Gandhi won the Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala.
Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. The BJP-led NDA won 293 in the polls.
In the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the BJP did not cross the majority mark, bagging 240 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong improvement, winning 99 seats.
While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats, the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions.