Sonia Gandhi was elected as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP). (Source: Randeep Surjewala/Twitter)UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was re-elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) on Saturday. The CPP, comprising newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs and members of the Rajya Sabha, held a meeting in the national capital a day after dates of the upcoming Parliament session were announced. Speaking on the occasion, Gandhi said, “We thank the 12.13 crore voters for reposing faith in the Congress Party.”
There was speculation as to whether Rahul Gandhi would take on the role, amid uncertainty of his stepping down from the position as Congress president.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh paid tribute to soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi before taking charge as Defence Minister. BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah met Rajnath at his residence this morning. Newly-elected NDA leaders are likely to meet today, a day after the distribution of portfolios to the 57-member Council of Ministers. The new Council has 24 Cabinet ministers, 9 Ministers of State with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State.
Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar makes news Twitter account, posts first time
Former foreign secretary S Jaishankar was given the charge of the External Affairs ministry on Friday. With the new responsibility, Jaishankar is a surprise entrant to PM Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, which took oath on Thursday. Jaishankar becomes part of a long line of career diplomats taking the political plunge. The former US Ambassador has been one of the most active diplomats in the Modi government and steered the government’s agenda across the world. A 1977 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, Jaishankar has previously served as Indian ambassador to US (2014-15), China (2009-13) among other European nations, and had a major role in the negotiation of the ambitious India-US civil nuclear agreement. The longest-serving foreign secretary is credited for forming the crux of Modi’s foreign policy in his first term as the prime minister.
Javadekar, Supriyo take charge of their offices
Prakash Javadekar takes charge as the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Babul Supriyo takes charge as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Each one of you is fighting for the Constitution: Rahul Gandhi to Congress members
Responding to her mother re-election as the CPP leader, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi thanked the voters and said every party member must remember that "each one of you is fighting for the Constitution, for every person in India irrespective of the color of his skin or belief". He further thanked his party workers as well.
Sonia Gandhi elected as leader of CPP
Sonia Gandhi has been elected as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala posted on Twitter Saturday. "We thank the 12.13 Cr voters for reposing faith in the Congress Party," Sonia said.
Rahul Gandhi leaves for CPP meeting
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi leaves for the CPP meeting. The big question is whether Rahul will take over as the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha. The first meeting of the newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs and members of the Upper House will be attended by CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and other top leaders.
G Kishan Reddy arrives Ministry of Home Affairs to take charge
Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy arrives at Ministry of Home Affairs to take charge. Reddy won from Secundrabad constituency in Telangana, defeating the TRS candidate by over 61,000 votes. This is the first time BJP has won from Telanagana.
In 2009 and 2014, he won from Amberpet Assembly constituency, however, lost in December 2018. But the BJP nominated him from Secundrabad Lok Sabha constituency. He was the BJP Telangana president since 2009.
Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at Rajnath Singh's residence
What are the challenges the Defence Minister could face?
The newly-appointed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be facing one of the biggest challenge of modernisation. The armed forces have been struggling with their vintage equipment. Some of its arms, artillery and air defence in particular cannot operate in today's environment. While the Navy needs major accretion to its fleets. READ MORE
Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitish Gadkari arrives in Nagpur
ICYMI: Rahul Gandhi sulks, does not meet Congress leaders, lets Priyanka do the talking
Rahul Gandhi had recently indicated that he will continue on the post till such time a suitable replacement is found. He has been insistent on stepping down as the party chief. While sources close to Rahul said he has given a month’s time to find a replacement, party leaders said it could go beyond a month. Some senior leaders believe they have managed to secure some breathing time.
Rahul had avoided to meet the top party leaders who had reached his residence last week, instead fielded his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to hold talks with them. READ MORE
Congress parliamentary panel meets today, all eyes on Rahul Gandhi
The newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs of the Congress are scheduled to meet for the first time today and are likely to elect the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).
The CPP is currently chaired by Sonia Gandhi. The meeting will be held in the central hall of Parliament. READ MORE
Rajnath Singh pays tribute at National War Memorial, will formally take charge as Defence Min
A day after Rajnath Singh was appointed as the Defence Minister, he visited the National War Memorial Saturday. Singh will formally take charge today.
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