Sonia Gandhi

The process for the election of Congress president got underway on Sunday, with the party's election authority saying it would stick to the schedule of electing a new chief by September 20.

The development comes days after the Congress secured a massive victory on its own in Karnataka after 10 years, winning 135 seats and defeating the BJP in the only state it was in power in southern India.

After Congress leader Sonia Gandhi hinted at her retirement by saying that her 'innings has ended', Congress spokesperson Alka Lamba cleared the air and said that she has not retired, but will continue to bless and guide.

In connection with the probe, the federal agency is reportedly conducting raids at 12 different sites, including the Delhi office of the Congress-owned National Herald newspaper. It comes after ED questionedCongress President Sonia Gandhi for about three hours in the alleged money laundering case.

According to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's RTI response, there is an overdue rent of Rs 12,69,902 against the Congress party headquarters on Akbar Road, and the last time the rent was paid was in December 2012.

Ram Vilas Paswan lived at the 12 Janpath house for almost two decades, and after his death, his son Chirag Paswan took it. Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, will be Kovind's new neighbour at 10 Janpath.

The CRPF, known for its VIP security details, already safeguards 176 individuals, including prominent figures like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Sonia Gandhi has tested positive for COVID for the second time in the last three months. The Rajya Sabha member said that the party chief will remain in isolation as per the government protocol.

"Hardik Patel has confirmed that he would join the BJP on June 2 in the presence of state president C R Paatil," BJP state spokesman Yagnesh Dave told PTI.Patel had resigned from the Congress party after criticising the party's senior leadership and claiming that Congress had been reduced to a mere political opposition.

Former Union minister Anand Sharma has resigned from the post of the chairman of the steering committee of the Himachal Pradesh Congress. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said that his self-respect is ”non-negotiable".