'We will rise again' Sonia back as CPP leader

New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was on Saturday re-elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) at a meeting of the party MPs at the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi. Sonia, who was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli constituency, will now pick the Congress leader in the Lower House.

Saturday's Congress meeting was attended by all 52 newly-elected Lok Sabha MPs, apart from Rajya Sabha members. Even though the number of party lawmakers in the Lower House is higher than that in 2014, the Congress is still short of two members to claim the post of Leader of Opposition.

"Congratulations to Smt Sonia Gandhi on being elected Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Under her leadership, the Congress will prove to be a strong and effective opposition party, that will fight to defend the Constitution of India," Rahul tweeted.

This was the first official meeting that Rahul attended after the May 25 meeting of the CWC, where he had offered to quit as Congress chief. The CWC had rejected the offer and unanimously passed a resolution authorising him to bring structural changes in the party at all levels in a bid to revamp it.

The Parliament session will commence on June 17 and conclude on July 26.