'Sonia Gandhi must...': Amid rebellion rumours, what Congress top body CWC said after election defeat

"The CWC unanimously reaffirms its faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi" - this is what the Congress announced after a meeting of its top decision-making body to discuss the party's miserable performance in the recent elections.

The Congress Working Committee, or CWC, dismissed speculation that the Gandhis might face questions for the party's consecutive defeats. Instead, the body asked Sonia Gandhi to "lead from the front".

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After a 5-hour marathon meeting, the CWC announced a 'chintan shivir' or brainstorming session of senior leaders. The shivir will be held after the next Parliament session which begins on March 14.

The CWC also said that the party was unable to "effectively expose the misrule of BJP state governments in 4 states". The CWC admitted that it was not able to overcome anti-incumbency in Punjab in the "short time after effecting a change of leadership".

In the recent polls, the Congress lost power in Punjab, while failing to secure victory in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, and Uttarakhand. The party failed to even emerge as a strong Opposition in these states. In Uttar Pradesh, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was leading the campaign, the Congress won only 2 seats out of 403.