Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress president

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 16 2017, Press Trust of India: Rahul Gandhi today took charge as the president of Congress in the presence of the 132-year-old party’s top brass and his family members.

 

The Congress’ central election authority (CEA) handed him over the certificate of his elevation to the top post during a grand event held at the lawns of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here.

47-year-old Rahul Gandhi was handed over the certificate in the presence of his mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior party leaders.

While handing over the certificate, CEA chairman Mullappally Ramachandran termed the moment as "historic".

There was chaos outside the AICC headquarters where the Congress workers gathered in large numbers for the event, making it difficult even for the senior party leaders to enter the venue.

Meanwhile, parts of Lutyens’ Delhi were dotted with posters hailing Rahul Gandhi’s ascension with some of them describing the development as the beginning of a New India.

Rahul Gandhi succeeds Sonia Gandhi, who led the party for the last 19 years.

Rahul Gandhi entered electoral politics in 2004. He was appointed as the party general secretary in 2007 and was elevated as its vice president in January 2013.

New Delhi, Dec 16, 2017 : Congress is set for a generational shift with Sonia Gandhi appearing as Congress President for the last time on Saturday. She will be formally handing over the baton to her son Rahul Gandhi ending years of speculation over when Gandhi scion will take charge of the party.

 

Sonia had been at the helm of the country’s oldest party for 19 years. Just before he takes over, Sonia had on Friday hinted at her retirement. However, Congress clarified that the current Congress chief was only speaking of retirement as party president, not from politics.

Stay with us for live updates of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress President.


Mohsina Kidwai, Senior Congress leader: This decision will help the party strengthen. This is not about dynastic politics. People want this family to continue.

courtey:Zeenews