Rahul Gandhi Steps Down As Congress President

Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, 3 July, officially resigned as the President of the Congress party, taking responsibility for the party’s loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi took to Twitter to say that it was his honour to serve as the Congress President and shared the resignation letter.

“I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love,” he wrote on Twitter.

 Earlier today, he had told reporters that the Congress should choose a new president “quickly and without further delay” and that he was not part of the process at all as he had already resigned.

“The party should decide on the new president quickly without further delay, I’m nowhere in this process. I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president,” said the 49-year-old after repeatedly refusing to back down on his resignation despite his party leaders pleading with him.

Rahul Gandhi said the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s top decision-making body, should call a meeting at the earliest and decide on a new chief.

Rahul Gandhi quit as Congress president on May 25, days after leading the party to its second national election drubbing. The party could win only 52 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, pulverized once again in the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP’s massive victory.

Taking responsibility for the rout, Rahul Gandhi also criticized party leaders for weakening the Congress campaign by placing their own interests above the party. He also made it clear that the party should look at a non-Gandhi to lead it.Sources say the CWC will meet soon to decide on his replacement, after failing to persuade him to change his mind.