Day after G-23 meeting, Gandhis reach out to rebel Congress leaders
India Today
After the G-23 meeting held at Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence, Sonia Gandhi talked to Azad and Rahul Gandhi met Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday.
In signs of thaw between the Group of 23 (G-23) faction of the Congress and the party high command, the Gandhis reached out to 'rebel' party leaders on Thursday. While Rahul Gandhi met veteran Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, sources said that party president Sonia Gandhi spoke to Ghulam Nabi Azad twice over phone.
The latest development comes after the G-23 faction met twice within 48 hours, signalling the high command to heed to their demands to revamp the party structure after the Congress faced a drubbing in the recently concluded assembly elections in five states.
Hooda, the former CM of Haryana, had reportedly fallen out of favour with Rahul Gandhi and they hadn't had a one-on-one meeting for more than three years. The meeting between the two leaders on Thursday lasted for 45 minutes, after which Hooda left for Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence.Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi spoke to Ghulam Nabi Azad and both leaders are likely to meet soon, sources said.
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What are the demands of G-23 leaders?
After their dinner meeting on Wednesday, the G-23 leaders issued a statement, urging the party high command to "adopt the model of collective and inclusive leadership and decision making at all levels".
"In order to oppose the BJP it is necessary to strengthen the Congress party. We demand the Congress party to initiate dialogue with other like-minded forces to create a platform to pave the way for a credible alternative for 2024. The next steps will be announced soon," the statement read.
