New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi has been re-elected as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), following a general body meeting of Congress members from both Houses of Parliament on Saturday. This decision came shortly after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) took steps to nominate Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha.

The meeting saw Sonia Gandhi’s name proposed for the CPP chairperson position by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. The proposal was supported by Gaurav Gogoi, Tariq Anwar, and K Sudhakaran.

Earlier in the day, an extended CWC meeting took place, which included not only CWC members but also state PCC chiefs and party leaders from various assemblies. The committee unanimously urged Rahul Gandhi to accept the role of LoP in the Lok Sabha. Rahul, elected from Rae Bareli and Wayanad, indicated he would make a decision on the matter soon. Unlike previous instances, the Congress now has sufficient strength in the Lok Sabha to secure the LoP position, which carries significant influence and benefits.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced that Sonia Gandhi would appoint the party's floor leaders in both Houses of Parliament. Upon her re-election, Sonia, currently a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, expressed her awareness of the significant responsibility entrusted to her by the members.

Sonia congratulated the newly elected Lok Sabha members for their resilience in a challenging election. She acknowledged the formidable opposition from a powerful and hostile machine that sought to financially undermine the party, crediting Kharge’s adept leadership for helping Congress navigate these difficulties.

“Many predicted our demise, but under Kharge’s determined leadership, we endured. He is an inspiration to all of us, with an extraordinary commitment to the organization that we must all emulate,” Sonia stated.

She also commended Rahul Gandhi for his perseverance and leadership, noting that his two yatras had revitalized party workers across all levels.

“Rahul deserves special thanks for his resilience and determination in the face of unprecedented personal and political attacks. He has sharply defined our narrative on guarantees and the protection of the Constitution,” Sonia added.