Rahul Gandhi, who has been the party vice-president for over four years since 2013, on Saturday officially took over the mantle of the 132-year-old Congress party from his mother Sonia Gandhi who headed the party for 19 years since 1998 and has been the longest-serving president of India’s Grand Old Party.
The Gandhi scion was handed over a certificate appointing him as the Congress president in the presence of mother Sonia Gandhi and other senior party leaders including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, current and former chief ministers, MPs and all PCC chiefs and delegates.
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#FLASH Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress President, handed over the certificate for taking over. pic.twitter.com/DQW9q76zEv
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
10:58 am: Rahul Gandhi arrives at Congress headquarters.
10:45 am: Sonia Gandhi leaves 10 Janpath, Priyanka Gandhi arrives at Congress headquarters.
10:30 am: Rahul Gandhi to be crowned as Congress president shortly.
09:42 am: Both Sonia, as well as Rahul Gandhi, will address party workers.
09:05 am: Sonia Gandhi will continue to be the chairperson of UPA, say Congress sources.
08:40 am: Reacting to the development, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said Rahul Gandhi had always been a unanimous choice of the lakhs of workers across India, and would infuse a new energy into the party. “It is a momentous occasion for the Congress party. For 19 years, Sonia Gandhi has led the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has been a unanimous choice of the lakhs of workers across India who has elected him as the president of the party. It’s a matter of great joy. Rahul Gandhi has lot of challenges ahead of him. He is an honest person. He allows space for discussion with humility. His becoming the president will infuse a new energy into the Congress Party,” Pilot said.
Delhi: Dance being performed as supporters gather outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence 12, Tughlak Lane, ahead of his takeover as Congress President. pic.twitter.com/LLqsJGda6V
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
08:25 am: Meanwhile, supporters and party workers were seen bursting crackers and raising slogans in support of the Gandhi scion outside Congress headquarters at Delhi’s Akbar Road. Posters and hoardings have also been put up in an area around All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.
08:15 am: Rahul’s unopposed election was foresighted as no one challenged his nomination or file papers. A total 89 nominations were filed for Rahul Gandhi by various Congress leaders and workers from across the country.
Visuals from outside Congress HQ in Delhi; sweets brought in, supporters continue to celebrate & raise slogans ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s takeover as party President. pic.twitter.com/e62Fgumr7t
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
08:00 am: The development also comes just two days before the counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections takes place.
07:45 am: On Friday, Sonia Gandhi had announced that it was time for her to retire. However, later the Congress party said that she has only retired from the party chief’s role and not from politics.