The document discusses the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in strengthening the Indian National Congress party. It notes that Sonia Gandhi has led the party as president for 15 years, overseeing electoral victories and the implementation of welfare programs. Rahul Gandhi has taken on an active role as vice president, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been working to strengthen the party organization in Raebareli through grassroots outreach and training programs. The document also discusses Rahul Gandhi's focus on empowering women and youth as well as some of his speeches advocating for development in various states.

1. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi – the real
aam aadmi leaders
Congress party is surging ahead with a vision for common man under the leadership of party
president Sonia Gandhi. After taking over as Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi has also been
helping his mother Sonia Gandhi to take the party ahead. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, with her
innovative style and ability to win the hearts of people, also doing her part.
Rahul Gandhi has been putting all his efforts to make the Congress organisational structure, more
democratic ensuring a proper mix of youth and the experienced. The recent restructuring of the
Congress organisation proved this fact beyond any doubt.
The recent state assembly elections in Karnataka, gave Congress a landslide victory. The outcome
was the result of a united campaign by the Congress under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul
Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi has been taking care of Raebareli, the parliament constituency of her
mother Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress party hopes that it can retain power at the centre with the matured and progressive
leadership of Sonia Gandhi assisted by Rahul Gandhi.
Following pages will take us through some of the important speeches, interventions of Sonia Gandhi,
Rahul Gandhi and a glimpse on Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts to strengthen the Congress party.

2. Innovative methods by Priyanka Gandhi to strengthen Congress
Raebareli: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister of party
Vice President Rahul Gandhi, has found an innovative way to pick leaders. She had some specific
questions to the 95 hopefuls whom she had interacted at Raebareli over the past two days, in a bid
to finalise names of Congress presidents for each of the town’s 31 wards.
The exercise was part of Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts to strengthen the party organisation in her
mother’s Lok Sabha constituency. “You have family and social responsibilities; how can you find time
for party work? If you are made a party ward president, how will you function as a leader?” Priyanka
Gandhi asked the Mukesh Kumar Singh, a candidate for Ward 21, whose father and grandfather too
are Congress activists. “I told her that my legal practice was a kind of social work and that I met
many people every day. I said I would extend my social service to a greater number of people. If I am
chosen a party leader, I shall follow the party’s policies and implement its agenda at the ward level.”
The three other questions that Priyanka asked candidates, besides making enquiries about their
family background, were: Why do you want to be a Congress leader and since when have you
developed a preference for the party and have been following its policies? How should one get a
Congress voter out of his home and bring him to the poll booth? How would you counter the
campaign against the Congress?
A candidate for Ward 15, trader Lalit Singh, said: “Priyankaji doesn’t give you much time to think.
She insisted that I answer quickly; she said she didn’t want laboured thoughts, nor answers aimed at
pleasing her.”
The Congress workers are quite impressed with this novel step of Priyanka Gandhi. Earlier, Congress
district presidents used to handpick party workers depending on their verbal expressions of loyalty.
There wasn’t much grassroots representation. But Priyanka set out to correct this after taking over
the task of strengthening the party organisation in the constituency in October last year.
Priyanka Gandhi has been telling party workers in the district that political challenges need to be
tackled at the micro-level. Last November, she launched a “Congress At Your Doorstep” campaign to
select village representatives for the party’s district bodies. In the past six months, she has made 74
block and panchayat-level appointments. Congress sources said Priyanka had visited Rae Bareli six
times in the past seven months in a bid to strengthen the party further before the next general
elections.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also expected to visit Raebareli on May 15 to launch a string of
development projects.

3. Priyanka Gandhi in Raebareli urges workers to strengthen Congress
Raebareli , 4 April, 2013: Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid a one-day visit to
Raebareli, the parliament constituency of her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and
interacted with the newly appointed nyaya and block panchayat presidents on Thursday.
Priyanka had visited the constituency last month also. In March this year, she was in the district for a
day to kick off a special training session of nyaya panchayats and block pramukhs in Raebareli. The
exercise was intended to train the new recruits of the constituency in the ideology and history of the
Congress. Roping in most of the senior Congress leaders in UP, the process also involved spreading
the word about the UPA II's flagship programmes that are being implemented in the state.
Priyanka Gandhi, who had also attended the first-day of the two-week training camp at Bhuvemau
guest house, , asked the Congress workers to mingle aggressively, address people's concerns and
strengthen the party at the grassroots. On Thursday, concluding the training programme, Priyanka
Gandhi repeated her message to the Congress workers urging them that they must be ready for
steer the party to a resounding win during the next elections. Congress sources says that the party
leadership may undertake similar training sessions in other parliamentary and assembly
constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka Gandhi also met the district in-charges of various front organisations and reviewed their
work. Besides motivating those performing well to continue the good work, she warned the
underperformers to improve their working.
Similarly in the meeting with District Congress Committee members, Priyanka Gandhi asked them to
chalk out a strategy to further strengthen the party base in six months and said future
responsibilities would be assigned to them after reviewing their performances.

4. Priyanka Gandhi visits Raebareli; urges Congress workers to be visible among people
New Delhi: 18 March 2013- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on a one-day visit to Raebareli, the
parliament constituency of her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi asked the party
workers to go grassroot level. She also inaugurated a five-day Congress training camp on Monday.
The purpose of the camp is to spread awareness among party leaders regarding the schemes and
projects launched by the Congress-led UPA government and the history of the party. Priyanka
Gandhi was accompanied by Union Minister Salman Khurshid and senior leader from Madhya
Pradesh Suresh Pachouri.
In the light of the party's loss in Assembly elections last year in Uttar PRadesh, Priyanka Gandhi
asked party workers to be visible among the public, noting that the party should be more strong
enough and people should easily recognise its workers. She also asked the party workers to interact
with public and address any problem people are facing. She also told the party workers that they
should understand their importance.
While Priyanka focused on party organisation, Khurshid highlighted the achievements of the UPA
government in the last nine years, telling the party leaders about the commitments and the
promises made by the government in various fields. In the coming days, more senior Congress
leaders are expected to address the workers.

5. Rahul Gandhi hopes self-help groups (SHG) will bring silent revolution for rural women
It is known that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi consistently fought the wrong land acquisition
at Niyamgiri in Orissa and Bhatta Parsaul in Uttar Pradesh and he played a crucial role for Central
Government’s decision to bring a new Land Acquisition Bill. Further, one of another most significant
contribution by Rahul Gandhi is making women's self-help groups (SHGs) a key unit of governance.
Rahul Gandhi believes that investing in women's SHGs can bring about a silent revolution in rural
India. It is with this objective in mind that the Union Cabinet decided earlier this week to provide low
interest loans to SHGs. Rahul Gandhi always stressed for the necessity to empower the women and
the youth in the country. On many occasions, the Congress Vice President argued that more and
more women and youth should join politics to cleanse the administration.
Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said: "The Cabinet has approved the provision of
interest subvention to women's SHGs operating under the National Rural Livelihood Mission,
(NRLM), enabling them to avail loans up to Rs 3 lakh at an interest rate of 7 per cent per annum".
The first phase of the scheme will focus on 150 backward districts, including naxal-affected districts.
The first phase of the scheme will focus on 150 rural districts, including naxal-affected districts
Ramesh promised that the Women SHGs that repay loans in time will get additional three per cent
subvention, reducing the effective rate to four per cent. The minister said that the first phase of the
scheme will focus on 150 backward districts, including all the 82 districts that have been declared as
naxal-affected. Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh confirmed that self help groups for
women is a priority for the UPA government. "SHGs is a priority area for the Government. We hope
to increase the number of SHG members from the present three crore to seven crore in the next
three to five years," Ramesh said. In 392 other districts, a majority of which are in north India, the
cost for subvention will be borne on jointly by the centre and state governments on a 75:25 basis. An
amount of Rs 1,650 crore will have to be spent to implement the Cabinet decision on NRLM that
covers 25 lakh women SHGs in which three crore women are members. Out of this, Rs 1,400 crore
will be borne by the Central Government and Rs 250 crore will be borne by the state governments.

6. Think big to achieve big: Rahul Gandhi tells Amethi people
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who is on a one-day visit to Amethi, laid the foundation stone
for three national highway projects in his parliament constituency. While addressing a public
meeting after the function, the Congress MP, striking an emotional chord with the people of his
constituency, said that Amethi is his home and it is his family.
“I have told you on many occasions that Amethi is my family, it is my home. Definitely I have a
political relationship with you but it is like a family relationship. I travel across the country, but
nowhere else other than here in Amethi, I feel myself more happy and relaxed. Though you entrust
me with more and responsibilities, I like the smiles in your faces very much”; and the crowd
acknowledged it with loud applauds.
“Lots of people of Amethi are engaged in the cultivation of rose flowers. You take those flowers to
Lucknow and Delhi. My dream is that, in ten years, the people from here will be able to sell their
grains and flowers even in America, England or in Dubai” said Rahul Gandhi. The crowd erupted
further when Rahul Gandhi said “I dream a day when many youngsters from Amethi will be running
their own business in America and they will have the flowers from Amethi on their table”.
The Congress Vice President continued further enthralling the crowd “This is not a big deal. We can
accomplish it. What we need is to dream big. If we dream big, we can achieve big things... Now only
the people of India know about Amethi. But in 10-15 years, even the people of America and England
will know about Amethi”.
Rahul Gandhi laid the foundation stone for three national highways – NH 330, 931 and 931 A
respectively connecting Raebareli to Jagdishpur, Faizabad; Chindwa to Gauriganj; Salon to Jayas –
Jagdishpur Marg. The 520 km project will cost Rs. 420 crore.

7. Rahul Gandhi at concluding rally of Kerala Yatra; assures all help of the Centre for development
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally here on Saturday in
connection with the culmination of the Kerala Yatra, led by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
president Ramesh Chennithala.
“This function is being held to mark the second anniversary of Congress-led UDF government in
Kerala and also as a concluding function of a successful Yatra led by Congress President in the state. I
also congratulate the leaders of the Congress for conducting such a successful state-wide tour to get
the first-hand knowledge of the views of the people. Through this Yatra, the Congress in the state
has reached out to the people to know their feelings and realise their requirements. We have one of
the most dynamic and capable Chief Ministers in Kerala and I am sure that he will take necessary
measures to work for more development in the state” said Rahul Gandhi.
Stressing for the need of reforming the political system in the country, the Congress Vice President
said “During my last visit to Kerala, I happened to attend a meeting in a panchayat. During the
meeting one of the members raised his hands and told me that at present there is a huge distance
between the politicians and common man. We should bridge this gap between politicians and
common man. The common man should get the feeling that he can be a part in the political
decisions”.
Striking an emotional chord with the people Rahul Gandhi declared “As far as the development in
Kerala is concerned I assure all possible help from the Central Government. Whatever help Kerala
needs for development from the centre, I assure that it will be given in full. I will be happy to
coordinate with the senior leaders and Chief Minister in this regard. Kerala Govt will have full
support from Central Government in Delhi”.
Rahul Gandhi also shared some of his thoughts on Kerala development. “It is very important that we
focus on two things – world class infrastructure and a world class higher education system. Kerala
has achieved tremendous success in Primary and Secondary education but we must work hard to
achieve the same in the Higher education also”.
“Kerala has been a role model in many fields like education and health. It is a beautiful place, as I
had already said. Kerala will soon become a most suitable business destination” added Rahul Gandhi
amidst cheers from the crowd.
Senior Congress leaders including Defence Minister A K Antony and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
also addressed the rally. The Kerala Yatra had begun from Hosangadi near Manjeswaram in
Kasaragod on April 18.

8. Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan says candidates with criminal record should be avoided
Jaipur: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day tour to Rajasthan while
interacting with the party leaders and workers expressed hope that the ruling Congress has a good
chance of retaining power in Rajasthan. He, however’ urged the party must avoid giving tickets to
people with criminal records in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
"I am (quite) confident that we will win in the state... although ticket distribution is our internal issue
but, in my view, candidates with criminal record should be avoided," said Rahul Gandhi on Thursday
informing that the ticket distribution process would begin soon.
After having held meetings in Bikaner and Jaipur over the course of the two days, the Congress Vice
President said that the interactions had been fruitful and open. Rahul Gandhi praised the Ashok
Gehlot government in Rajasthan, saying that it had initiated several pro-people schemes. "We have
one formula for our governments, that they should be pro-people and do welfare work for the
people... Gehlot has done good work in this direction," Rahul Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said that he had expressed in the meetings his opinion that the voice of a
maximum number of people should be heard within the party. "We are trying to make sure that the
voice of a maximum number of people, including youths and women, can be heard and addressed in
the party system. There are certain issues... The feedback I got in Rajasthan is the party's internal
matter and we will look into it," said the Congress MP. Rahul Gandhi was on his first visit to the state
after being anointed the Congress Vice-President.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi held discussions with presidents and office bearers of 25 district
Congress committees and also met elected Panchayati Raj representatives and PCC office bearers.
The Congress Vice President also had held similar discussions in Bikaner on Wednesday where
representatives from 15 district committees had met him.

9. Sonia Gandhi and 15 successful years as Congress President
On 14 March, when Sonia Gandhi completes 15 uninterrupted years - a unique distinction - as the
Congress president, she has a lot of things in her credit, from strengthening her party to giving a
visionary guidance to the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre. She took over as
Congress President in 1998 at a time a demoralised and fragmented Congress party was going
through a turbulent phase and ruling just four states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Mizoram and
Nagaland. And after taking over Sonia Gandhi restored the party's central place in the country's
polity in six years.
After three continuous in 1996, 1998 and 1999, Sonia Gandhi played a pivotal role in bringing the
Congress party back to power in 2004 and since then the Congress has successfully led a coalition
government at the Centre and is in power in 13 states.
It was because of her persistent intervention and guidance the Congress-led UPA Government at the
Centre framed some land mark polices like Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Right to Education and the
Right to Information. Women empowerment has always been her focus and she was instrumental
for many polices by the Centre in that direction. The mid-day meal scheme in government schools is
yet another example for her pro-poor approach. Now the government is ready with Food Security
Bill, another dream project of Sonia Gandhi. She always argued for inclusive growth and insisted for
special care to youth, women, minorities, tribals and other most backward classes. There is her mark
in the latest Congress-led Centre government programme, the Direct cash transfer (DBT) in which
the money meant for the poor will directly reach the beneficiaries bank accounts through Aadhar
card.
It is a fact that the Congress was in disarray when Sonia Gandhi took over. But after that she has
been able to establish unity and authority in the party and now Congress has regained its political
domination across the country.
Sonia Gandhi has also been credited for taking the Congress to the left-of-the-centre position and for
crafting good and effective coalitions. Her legacy is bringing Congress back to secular position with
focus on welfare and distribution that helped the party to regain its dominance in the national polity
in 2004.
It is a known fact that Sonia Gandhi, after the assassination of her husband and former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, had turned down repeated requests by Congress workers, leaders and
followers to join the party, till 1997. And finally, on March 14, 1998, she was elected as the Congress
President. The biggest challenge for her then was to rejuvenate the party that had crumbled and
split over the years and it is history now that she could accomplish the task effectively and
efficiently.
Though Congress faced electoral debacle initially, the party under the energetic leadership of Sonia
Gandhi could come back with a bang in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress emerged as the
single largest party and along with Left, and other like-minded parties formed the UPA government.

10. Unperturbed by the foreign origin issue raked by her opponents, Sonia Gandhi had succeeded in
demolishing BJP led NDA's "India Shining" campaigns with the "aam aadmi" slogan of the Congress.
The important milestone in her political career is her refusing the PM post. She stunned the entire
world by declining to take up the top post. "Power in itself has never attracted me, nor has position
been my goal," she had then said. The renunciation of power -- a move many described as one of her
biggest political masterstrokes-- solidified Sonia Gandhi's position. Under her leadership, the UPA
retained power in 2009 general elections with the Congress winning 206 seats, the highest by any
party since 1991.
For Sonia Gandhi, the biggest challenge now, is to ensure Congress' victory in the coming assembly
and Lok Sabha elections, which comes at a time when the party has been at the receiving end of
several controversies. But, Congress is hopeful that with her visionary leadership and under newly
appointed young Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the party will retain the power in the next
general elections also.

11. Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli, launches various development projects
Raebareli, 25 March, 2013: Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson
Sonia Gandhi paid a one-day visit to her parliamentary constituency Rae Bareli on Monday. The
Congress leader launched various development projects in the constituency. The people of Raebareli
have all reasons to be more happy and colourful on this occasion of Holi as the MP gifted more
projects to boost development in the region.
Sonia Gandhi reached Fursatganj airport on Monday morning and her first programme was
to inaugurate the newly constructed Superintendent of Post Office’ building (administrative
office building of Post Offices) and sub- post office at Malik Mau Motor Chowk of Jawahar
Vihar colony of Raebarely city.
The Congress MP then proceeded to Budhanpur where she laid the foundation stone for a
FM Radio station. The FM radio station will be set up in the area of 2.86 acre of land and will be
commissioned within one year of time. The Centre has sanctioned about 10 crore 50 lakhs rupees
for the project. The 20 KW FM station at Raebareli will provide coverage up to radial distance
of about 65 to 70 kilometers and is expected to cover a population of about 60 lakhs. With
the existing FM transmitters about 37 percent population of the state are covered and after
commissioning of this FM transmitter and 10 KW transmitters at Banda and Mau, the AIR
FM coverage in the state is expected to increase up to 46 percent of the population.
Sonia Gandhi later visited Kila Bazar to lay the foundation stone for the Rajkiya Balika Inter
College where she also kick-started a Solar Lights project provided by NTPC. Thereafter, the UPA
Chairperson presided over a district district vigilance and monitoring committee at Bachat Bhawan
to review the progress of various on-going projects and central schemes. Earlier the Congress leader
also met the family members of Dr. Leena Singh and Dr. Naithan who had expired recently and paid
condolences.
Before returning to Delhi Sonia Gandhi distributed tricycles for physically handicapped
persons at a function at Ryan International School in which 150 cycles were distributed. She
also gave away other accessories like hearing aids for differently-abled persons. At the
venue, she incidentally came in contact with a handicapped person named Vijay and while
interacting with him Sonia Gandhi could realise that his name was not there in the list of
persons to whom the tricycles were given. She immediately asked the officials to include his
name also in the list and a cycle was given to him immediately. Vijay, while thanking Sonia
Gandhi for her kindness, also requested her to help him to get an employment. The
Congress MP quickly asked her representative to take note of this and assured Vijay all
possible help from her side in this regard.
The Congress President once again has underlined the fact that she has a special bond,
affection, care and love towards the people of Raebareli.

12. Jamia Millia: Sonia Gandhi expresses concern over violence against women
NEW DELHI: While addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the new girls'
hostel of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi
expressed her concern over violence against women and urged the civil society to be proactive in
creating a safe environment for them.
The Congress President urged the university to make this a starting point for further infrastructure
development. "...The hostel will ensure better security for the girls of the university. We have been
shocked by the violence that girls and women encounter on the street and even at home. Of course,
it is not universal but it is widespread. It pains me that we have failed to counter it as a society and
create a safe environment in which girls and women can flourish without being constantly forced to
live in fear of abuse and molestation, " said Sonia Gandhi.
The new hostel is to be constructed by Jamia Millia Islamia at a cost of Rs 26 crore. The event was
organized at Jamia's sport facility. Nearly 1,000 students, faculty members and other staff of the
university attended.
The university recently received a grant of Rs 26 crore under the general development scheme of the
XIIth Plan for the purpose of building a girls hostel on campus. Once built, the hostel will be able to
accommodate 400 more girl students. Besides three-bed rooms for students, the hostel will also
have a sick room, gymnasium, dining hall, reading area, washing area, function hall, recreational
open spaces and lawns.

13. Indira Gandhi is my role model: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi warnined the party leaders that he wouldn’t be
would crack down on indiscipline. “Look at that photograph, the second one. She is my role model,”
said Rahul Gandhi pointing towards a picture of Indira Gandhi, at a meeting with Delhi leaders.
“I will not tolerate indiscipline. I will take tough action. I will punish those who act against the party’s
interests,” he asserted. This is the sternest message to have come from the party vice-president
after his polite endeavours over the past few months to curb internal squabbles almost drew a
blank.
Rahul Gandhi signalled that he wouldn’t be blind to undisciplined leaders. “I don’t mind if our
government goes out of power but I won’t tolerate factional conspiracies. My main aim is to
strengthen the Congress and that can be done by the sincerity and hard work of the ordinary
workers. There cannot be any compromise on the organisation,” said the Congress Vice President.
“Heed my advice and come together to work for the party. Stop playing games within the party. I
know what is happening. I know who does what, I am not the one who will turn a blind eye to all
these,” he added. In Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, where polls are due this
year, factionalism is one of the problems in the Congress for long.
While interacting with the Delhi Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi argued that CM Sheila Dikshit had
been working tirelessly for 14-15 years and every Congress worker and leader should work to
strengthen her hands. The Congress leader warned partymen and leaders who paid no heed to block
party presidents. He said nobody with less than 70 per cent attendance in monthly meetings called
by the presidents should expect election tickets.
However, the strong stand by the young Congress leader surely indicates one thing –Rahul Gandhi
has begun to show his tough side.

14. Uttarakhand: Sonia Gandhi, Rahul flag off relief material for floods victims
New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday has flagged off trucks
carrying relief materials for Uttarakhand flood victims. Trucks left from the party headquarters in
New Delhi. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also was present during the occasion.
Top Congress leaders were present at the AICC headquarters where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
flagged off 24 truckloads of relief supplies in addition to the 125 trucks already sent to Dehradun.
Besides these two, leaders present on the occasion included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit,
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Road Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes and, political secretary
to Congress President Ahmed Patel, AICC General Secretaries Ambika Soni and Ajay Maken.
Sonia Gandhi had on June 19 along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conducted an aerial survey
of rain-ravaged areas in Uttarkhand where flash floods have claimed over a thousand lives. So far,
80,000 people have been evacuated but more than 15,000 are still stranded across the state.
Congress President had on Friday directed all party MPs and MLAs to donate their one month salary
for relief work in the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand as the magnitude of the flash flood tragedy
continued to unfold taking the death toll in the rain fury to 1,000.
She had also directed all party MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to give Rs 10 lakh each from
their MPLAD fund for carrying out relief work there," party's communication department in-charge
Ajay Maken had told. Congress has currently 203 members in the Lok Sabha and 72 in Rajya Sabha.
The party had also set up a PCC control room at Dehradun to accelerate the relief work. AICC
Secretary Sanjay Kapoor and the party's wing Seva Dal's chief Mahendra Joshi have been sent to
Dehradun to monitor the work.

15. Rahul Gandhi calls for unity, says infighting will be dealt with a strong hand
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, during his first interaction with party leadership in
Delhi, made it clear that the government and the party must speak in one voice and work in tandem.
Rahul Gandhi came forward to give a strong message - perform or perish. He also pointed out that
his working style was in line with that of his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi also made it clear that any infighting will be dealt with a strong hand and warned that
he was "very strong" like Indira Gandhi and will take action against any partyman attacking another
Congress leader publicly and in the media. "The Congress president is soft but I am strong and will
not tolerate any indiscipline," said Rahul Gandhi in a strong message to the Congress leaders.
Rahul Gandhi stressed on strengthening the grassroots and emphasizing the need for balance
between the government and the party. He held focussed meetings with representatives from each
of the seven parliamentary constituencies including the area MP, MLAs, district presidents and block
presidents. He also asked the district and block presidents whether their opinion was sought by the
senior leaders while deciding on selection of candidates for the polls. With quite a few coming
forward to say that they were not consulted, the functioning of the party is likely to see some
change. The first such meeting in the capital is part of a series of similar meetings held in other
states by Rahul Gandhi since his appointment as party Vice President.
"Rahul Gandhi told us to work unitedly and prepare for the assembly polls," said Ajay Maken, MP
from New Delhi and Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation. MP from Chandni Chowk
Kapil Sibal said Rahul Gandhi asked party workers to further strengthen the party at the grassroot
level. "Rahul Gandhi aims to strengthen the party," he said.
Another MP said Rahul instructed the party leaders to take the achievements of Sheila Dikshit
government as well as UPA government to the people. A majority of party leaders, who attended the
interactions today, described their meeting with Rahul Gandhi as a "morale booster". " Rahul said
power should be decentralised and party should not be run by a few people. He also underlined the
need for even taking views of block level party workers while recommending names for ticket
aspirants in the assembly polls," said an MLA. "Rahul said the government may have shortcomings.
But that does not mean that you will not take its achievements to the people," the MLA quoted
Rahul as saying. "We had differences. It is a family and there was nothing unusual to have
differences. But today, the differences were resolved. We will work together," Delhi Congress chief
Aggarwal told reporters. "I am very happy about Rahul Gandhi's visit to DPCC. It has enthused the
party workers to work hard for the upcoming assembly polls," said Aggarwal.
A majority of MLAs said that in almost all interactions Rahul Gandhi asked all those present to speak
about their views on various party-related issues rather than he himself making lengthy speeches.
"In our meeting, he even asked one block Congress president what he thinks about his role...He was
very clear in his agenda. He wanted the party to be strengthened at the grassroot level," said an
MLA.
It is a great efforts indeed by the young Congress President to strengthen the party. Further, the
Congress will reach new skies under Rahul Gandhi’s progressive and energetic leadership.

16. Sonia Gandhi figures among Forbes’ world's top 100 'Most Powerful Women List'
New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi figures among the top 10 in the
global list of most powerful women compiled by Forbes magazine for 2013. India-born PepsiCo chief
Indra Nooyi also finds a place in the list.
Sonia Gandhi is ranked ninth while Nooyi is at the tenth place in the global list of world's 100 most
powerful women. German Chancellor Angela Merkel tops the list for the third consecutive year,
followed by Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, Melinda Gates of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US
First lady Michelle Obama and philanthropist Hillary Clinton.
Private sector lender ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar is ranked 65th and
Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has secured the 85th spot in the global list. Cisco Systems
Chief Technology and Strategy Officer India-born Padmasree Warrior is ranked 57th.
According to Forbes, this year's list represents influential women in politics, business, media,
entertainment, technology and non-profits -- ranking them by money, media presence and impact.
The list features nine heads of state who run nations with a combined GDP of USD 11.8 trillion
including the Merkel, while 24 corporate CEOs on the list lead firms with USD 893 billion in revenues.
Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of the ruling Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre and has
played the crucial role in the functioning of the coalition. At a time the UPA government celebrates
its 9th
anniversary, what’s noteworthy about Sonia Gandhi’s leadership is the initiative to create the
National Advisory Council (NAC) to give civil society an access to policy-making. Also noteworthy are
policy interventions such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to
Information Act which originated in the NAC have shown results. The other major policy measures
such as the Right to Education Act, the Food Security Bill, the Aadhar-based cash transfers and the
land acquisition bill, are clear in their objectives but face the challenge of implementation and
delivery.
Sonia Gandhi is not burdened by the baggage of caste and cultural dogma. By interacting closely
with members of the civil society, she has shown greater sensitivity to the real problems faced by
India and is indeed placed in a position where she can make a difference. Sonia Gandhi has
undoubtedly proved that she is an energetic, progressive and efficient leader and has been leading
the biggeswt political party – the Congress, in a matured manner.

17. Priyanka Gandhi’s new style to strengthen Congress in Raebareli, Amethi
Raebareli: Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on a two- day visit to
Raebareli, the parliament constituency of her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on
Thursday, conducted interviews to select members of city Congress committees. She took about 100
interviews over the past two days.
Priyanka Gandhi also met Assembly-level party co-ordinators from Amethi, the parliamentary
constituency of her brother and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, at Bhuvemau guesthouse on
the day. The meeting was held to plan re-organisation of Congress committees in Amethi, the way
she has done in Raebareli during the past year after the 2012 elections.
While she has been a regular visitor to Rae Bareli in the recent past, this was her second visit here
within a fortnight and fourth visit in past three months. Though her main focus would be to look
after the party work in Raebareli, come Congress co-ordinators from Amethi wanted to meet her
with the request to create party organisation in Amethi, the way she has done in Rae Bareli. Soon, a
similar process for collection of applications and formation of committees will start in Amethi as
well.
Earlier Priyanka Gandhi had implemented another innovative style asking the Congressmen to go to
the people, which had helped party to increase its influence among the common people.