Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, chaired a meeting of Congress MPs today to assess their performance during the ongoing winter session. The Congress currently has 99 MPs in the Lower House. According to senior leader K Suresh, the gathering was a routine interaction with the LoP. During the meeting, MPs passed a condolence resolution in honour of senior Congress figure Shivraj Patil. Suresh noted that Patil, who had served as Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, and Governor, was one of the party’s tallest leaders at both the state and national levels, and his death is a significant loss for the organisation.

Suresh added that with only a few days left in the winter session, Rahul Gandhi used the meeting to engage with MPs, discuss their performance, and review the progress of the session so far. Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of Home Minister Amit Shah after Shah attacked the Congress during the debate on electoral reforms. Gandhi claimed Shah did not respond directly to his questions and appeared visibly nervous and under pressure during his speech. He said the Home Minister failed to provide any proof in response to his challenges.

Congress MP Tanuj Punia also reiterated that Shah avoided addressing key issues, including developments in Haryana, and instead targeted the Congress. The BJP countered these allegations. Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of adopting a “hit-and-run” approach, saying Gandhi walks out whenever the Prime Minister or Home Minister speaks. Singh claimed that Shah’s speech had unsettled the Congress. This exchange followed a tense confrontation between Shah and Gandhi in the Lok Sabha over allegations of “vote chori.”