New Delhi, Nov 4: Almost the entire Congress working committee today came out openly in favour of Sonia Gandhi in the party presidential election and dismissed dissident leader Jitendra Prasada's allegation that the party was lacking inner party democracy. "During the past 30 months, she (Gandhi) has with singleminded dedication and determination held the party together, encouraged free debate and transparency. Wide ranging consultation, discussion and debate have distinguished her tenure", 20 CWC members, led by Manmohan Singh, said in a joint statement. In an apparent move to isolate Prasada, who is taking on Gandhi in the Nov 12 election, the CWC members said that they "unanimously and wholeheartedly" support the candidature of Gandhi and request "our collegues in the electoral college to do so". The statement has come a day before the close of nominations and includes almost all the working committee members and permanent invitees. The signatories include nine of the ten elected members of the CWC. Prasada is also an elected member. They came out with the statement after an informal gettogether today which was attended among others by Madhavra Scindia, Arjun Singh, N D Tiwari, Ahmed Patel, R K Dhawan, Motilal Vora, K Natwar Singh, Madhavsinh Solanki and Bhajan Lal. Rest of the members, who are out of station, conveyed their support by signing the statement and faxing it back to the group which met here.
