Sonia Gandhi
After Kapil Sibal's remarks, Sonia Gandhi names 4 'dissenters' as members to key panels
New Delhi/IBNS: Days after Kapil Sibal made remarks raising doubts on the leadership of Congress following the party's debacle in the recently held Bihar elections, president Sonia Gandhi has included four members of the 'dissenting camp' in three committees set up to keep her informed on matters relating to national security, foreign affairs and the economy.
The announcements were made on Friday just before Gandhi leaves for Goa to escape Delhi pollution, a move seen to avoid public embarrassment following Sibal's remarks.
A committee formed on economic affairs includes former Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
The second committee on foreign affairs has both Anand Sharma and Shashi Tharoor while Ghulam Nabi Azad and Veerappa Moily have been named to the third, the Congress stated in a press communique.
Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, was not initially named in the dissenting camp but appears to have been moved there after his support of Sibal.
Hon'ble Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has constituted three committees to consider & discuss issues & policies related to Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs & National Security. pic.twitter.com/LBvfpvsBPB
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 20, 2020
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been named as a member of all three committees.
This comes after Sibal in an interview with The Indian Express, said that he had been forced to go public with his views as " there has been no dialogue and there seems to be no effort for a dialogue by the leadership".
Anand Sharma had also criticised the decision of the party to stay away from the RCEP (regional comprehensive economic partnership) - a free trade deal promoted by China.
Sibal was hit back by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and senior Congres leader Salman Khurshid for doubting the leadership.
Both Anand Sharma and Kapil Sibal were among the 23 Congress leaders who had signed the August's 'dissent letter', which caused an all-out clash within the party.
The letter called for sweeping reforms, introspection and "full-time, visible leadership" of a party that has had Gandhi as "interim" chief since Rahul Gandhi resigned from the top post following last year's Lok Sabha polls debacle.
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