Patna Hosts Historic Congress CWC Meeting Addressing Elections and Alleged Vote Theft

Patna, the capital of Bihar, became the location for a significant Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday. This marked the first CWC meeting in Bihar since India gained independence, and took place at the Sadaqat Ashram. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the forthcoming assembly elections and to devise strategies to counter issues such as alleged vote theft. Key attendees included party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and other senior leaders. Chief Ministers from Congress-governed states, presidents of state Congress units, and leaders from the Congress Legislature Party also participated. Notably absent were Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address the gathering. Following the CWC meeting, Rahul Gandhi was expected to engage with leaders from the INDIA opposition alliance to resolve issues related to the selection of the Chief Ministerial candidate and the allocation of seats. A meeting was arranged at Hotel Chanakya to facilitate this discussion. A joint press conference might also be held by Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. This CWC meeting holds particular significance, occurring 85 years after previous meetings held in 1912, 1922, and 1940. Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal had arrived in Patna on Tuesday in preparation for the meeting. Congress leaders highlighted the historical importance of the gathering, with Pawan Khera describing it as an event where decisions would be momentous. Rajesh Kumar Ram, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President, emphasized the meeting’s importance as the first of its kind in Bihar after independence. K.C. Venugopal emphasized the CWC meeting’s objective to demonstrate the party’s dedication to the well-being of Bihar’s citizens, particularly in a time when the state confronts a critical juncture.