Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday called for “unity at all levels” of the organisation at a meeting of party MPs in which she spoke about the party’s “shocking and painful” defeats in the recent elections even as she slammed the government for targeting the Opposition and “spreading maximum fear and intimidation”. Stating that the road ahead for the Congress was more challenging than ever before and the spirit of resilience of party workers was under severe test, Sonia Gandhi said she had received many suggestions on how to strengthen the party and she was working on “many of them”. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi said, “The road ahead is more challenging than ever before. Our dedication and determination, our spirit of resilience are under severe test. Unity at all levels of our vast organisation is of paramount importance and speaking for myself, I am determined to do whatever is needed to ensure it. Our revival is not just a matter of importance to us alone–it is, in fact, essential for our democracy itself and indeed for our society as well.”
Sonia Gandhi also said she had received many suggestions on how to strengthen the Congress and she was working on “many of them”. “I am very well aware of how disappointed you are at the recent election results. They have been both shocking and painful. The CWC has met once to review our performance. I have met with other colleagues too. I have received many suggestions on how to strengthen our organization,” she added. The comments come ahead of a “Chintan Shivir” of the party organised following party’s defeat in Punjab Assembly polls and its failure to make a mark in four other states.