The Congress CWC finalised its strategy on Vande Mataram, student issues, Ram temple donations, delimitation, and condemned the Haldwani ‘shuddhikaran’ incident.
Top Congress leaders met on Wednesday (August 19) in New Delhi at a key Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to devise political strategy on a varied range of issues, including Vande Mataram row, student-related concerns, and alleged irregularities in Ram temple donations.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired the meeting held at the INdira Bhawan. Other prominent leaders who attended the meeting are Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states.
Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held under the leadership of Congress President Shri @kharge.
CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, LoP Shri @RahulGandhi, and other CWC members were present.
📍 Indira Bhawan, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/5AA4ddG1Ej
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 19, 2026
Congress To Stick To 1937 Resolution On Vande Mataram
The Congress CWC decided to abide by the 1937 resolution of its highest decision-making body on Vande Mataram, saying only two stanzas of the National Song would be sung at all party events henceforth.
The Congress decision came after the BJP accused its leaders of insulting Vande Mataram by not singing the full version at party events.
Addressing a press conference after the over-four-hour meeting of the CWC, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the party’s stand is very clear, and it stands behind the decision of its top leadership in 1937.
“There is no confusion on that. Congress president categorically said so yesterday in Goa. Today we also discussed the issue in the meeting of the CWC. Our stand is very clear that the 1937 resolution decided in which Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sardar Patel – the top-most leadership of the party at that point of time—were present,” Venugopal said.
“Whatever the decision they took, we have decided that. We are very clear that our Congress party workers will do that only. This is our decision,” he told reporters.
Targeting the BJP, Venugopal said, Vande Mataram is a political matter for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Meanwhile, BJP National President Nitin Nabin hit out at the COngress regarding the grand old party’s decision to stick to playing only the first two stanzas of the ‘Vande Mataram’ at party programmes. He accused the Congress of turning the “insult” to the national song into an official party position, calling it the “new Muslim League”.
Congress’s Student Outreach Program:
The Congress CWC voiced concern over student protests triggered by recurring examination paper leaks and shortcomings in the education system. It also lauded Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to engage with students through initiatives such as the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme.
The party plans to expand similar outreach events to 800 cities nationwide, with Rahul Gandhi likely to attend several programmes. Congress-ruled states have been directed to develop comprehensive education and examination reform plans within a month after holding consultations with students and other key stakeholders.
Ram Temple Donation Row:
The CWC also resolved to step up the Congress campaign over the alleged “Chanda Chori” (donation theft) issue at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. State-level party units have been instructed to expand the campaign and take it down to the village level.
“Everybody knows that Ram Mandir chanda chori is not only an issue concerning the Ram Mandir now. It has become an issue of the sentiments of the people. Those who are spreading religion to polarise the people, those who are using the Ram Mandir to polarise the people, are now totally exposed,” Venugopal said in a press conference.
CWC की बैठक में कांग्रेस कार्यसमिति का प्रस्ताव 👇 pic.twitter.com/Rgy50xs8mv
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 19, 2026
On Delimitation:
The Congress reiterated its call to retain the Lok Sabha’s existing strength of 543 seats for the next 25 years, while introducing 33% reservation for women within the current framework.
“On delimitation, Congress feels Lok Sabha strength should be fixed at 543 for next 25 yrs. Govt should implement 33 per cent women’s reservation on present strength of the Lok Sabha,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
