Sonia set to be re-elected as Cong chief

R K Dhawan and Madhavrao Scindia are yet to follow suit, besides AICC treasurer, Ahmed Patel.

Confirming that the general secretaries have quit "voluntarily", party spokesman Ajit Jogi told newsmen there is no question of Sonia resigning owning moral responsibility for the reverses as her "able and competent" leadership has helped the organisation.

"The question did not and does not arise," he said adding there is no challenge to her leadership as she is the "supreme" leader, both in the party and the CPP.

Party sources said the unanimous election of Sonia as CPP chairperson appeared certain at its first meeting after the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday.

Even as pressure mounted on Sonia to assume the role of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, party sources said she might delegate the responsibility to some senior leader like N D Tiwari or Madhavrao Scindia.

The party’s Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh has resigned from the post following his defeat in the Lok Sabha polls from South Delhi constituency. The party leadership has, however, not taken any decision on the resignation giving rise to speculation that he might be told to continue.

Five AICC secretaries, in a joint statement, demanded that Sonia assume the role of the Leader of Opposition in addition to being CPP chief saying "Parliament is the forum in which the political battle is joined. The party needs to have her lead from the front."

The secretaries are: Mani Shankar Aiyar, Ramesh Chennithala (both MPs), Imran Kidwai, Sudhir Sawant and Mukul Wasnik.

Party sources said soon after being elected CPP chairperson, Sonia would appoint four office bearers each — leader of Opposition, deputy leader, chief whip and whip — in both the Houses.

However, the sources said there was possibility of more than one whip in each House.