Congress Will Fight For Those Who Can’t Fight Alone: Rahul Gandhi
Before Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia held the party’s top post for 19 years as the Congress’ longest-serving chief.
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Sonia to Contest from Rae Bareli in 2019 LS Polls
Sonia Gandhi will be contesting from Rae Bareli in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, a Congress spokesperson said.
Corrupt Ways of Congress Remain the Same
The BJP on 16 December dubbed the Congress as a "corrupt thought process" as it shrugged off Rahul Gandhi's elevation as its president, saying its working style and "corrupt ways" remained the same.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra launched a sharp attack on the Congress after Gandhi attacked the ruling party soon after replacing her mother Sonia Gandhi as its president.
Patra cited the sentencing of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who was supported by the Congress, in a corruption case to hit out at the party, claiming it would remain corrupt despite the change in leadership.
He said it was an irony that despite the Congress not being in power for four years, corruption cases were still tumbling out and people jailed for corruption they did when it was in power.
Rahul Gandhi was appointed the president of the Congress at the party headquarters in New Delhi on 16 December. Rahul's elevation marks the end of Sonia Gandhi's 19 year-long uninterrupted term as Congress president – the longest serving president of the grand old party. Sonia Gandhi was elected to the post in 1998 and spearheaded the party when the UPA was in power for 10 years.
- It’s official! Rahul Gandhi has been formally elevated to the post of Congress president
- In his first official address as party president, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP for “spreading fire and violence” in the country
- “The PM is taking us back to the medieval times,” Rahul said
- Sonia Gandhi urged the party to work to “safeguard values on which the country was founded” in her final address as Congress chief
Prominent Personalities Wish Rahul
Congratulations poured in for the new chief.
We Will Never Back Down, Says Rahul Gandhi
Addressing Congress members for the first time as the party president, Rahul Gandhi said that he wants the party to become an instrument of dialogue between all people “from all corners of our great country. And our dialogue will always be led by light and affection.”
Accusing the BJP of spreading violence in the country, he said the Congress “will fight for those who can’t fight alone”. “We consider the BJP as our brothers and sisters, even though we do not agree with them,” he said.
The new chief claimed that the Congress took India to the 21st century, but “the Prime Minister today is taking it back to medieval times”.
Reaching out to the youth, he said, “We will now make this a ‘grand old and young party’.”
We Salute Sonia Ji for Her Magnificent Leadership: Manmohan Singh
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Rahul Gandhi’s appointment a “unique day in the history of the Congress”.
He thanked Sonia Gandhi for providing the party with her “powerful leadership” for 19 years.
He congratulated party’s new chief Rahul Gandhi and added that he has been “trained for a long period and has looked after the party activities... He brings to this office a new sense of dedication and commitment”.
Crackers Play Spoilsport During Sonia's Final Address as Cong Chief
"Today is the final time I will speak to you as the president of the Congress," Sonia Gandhi told the crowd at the function.
The outgoing chief was forced to halt her speech midway after being repeatedly drowned out by the loud sound of firecrackers being burst. A Congress worker took the mic and appealed to the crowd to refrain from bursting crackers so that Sonia could continue with her address.
Although her party had gone through some difficult times and lost several elections, it would “never bow down,” she said.
Handing over the charge of Congress president to her son Rahul, she said the party should set its house in order and be ready for any sacrifice to stop the communal forces in the country.
Congratulating Rahul on his elevation, she said personal attacks on her son have made him fearless and voiced confidence that the young leadership will infuse new vigour in the party.
“I am sure he will lead the party with courage and dedication,” 71-year-old Sonia Gandhi said
Speaking about her son, she said:
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Arrive at Party HQ
Rahul Gandhi Leaves for AICC HQ
Priyanka Gandhi, Robert Vadra Arrive at Party HQ
Sonia Gandhi's Nameplate at Cong HQ Replaced
Cong Thanks Longest-Serving Chief Sonia Gandhi
The Congress tweeted its gratitude to the party’s longest-serving president Sonia Gandhi.
Rahul to Take Charge as Congress Chief
Rahul Gandhi will be officially sworn in as the Congress President today, taking over from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who has headed the party for the last 19 years.
Congress Office in Lucknow Decked Up
The Congress office in Lucknow was lit up and decorated on Friday, 15 December, a day before Rahul Gandhi will officially take over the post of president of the party.
Celebrations at the Congress Headquarters, Youth Congress Office
Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi’s imminent elevation to the post of president of the party was celebrated with much gusto at the Delhi office of the Indian Youth Congress on Friday, 15 December. Gandhi will take oath as the party’s chief on 16 December.
Sweets were distributed at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.
Stalls selling badges, key chains, etc, with Gandhi's photos were also set up outside the office.
'My Role Is Now to Retire,' Says Sonia
Sonia Gandhi on Friday, 16 December, said it was time for her to retire, triggering immediate speculation about her future plans. However, the Congress sought to play down her comment saying she only meant retiring from the role of the party’s chief and not from politics.
"My role now is to retire," NDTV quoting her as saying, in response to a question on whether she will continue as chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
Rahul Elected to the Post of Party President 'Unopposed'
Rahul Gandhi was elected as the Congress’ president on 11 December. He was the only candidate in the fray. Party leader Mullappally Ramachandran said Rahul was elected to the post ‘unopposed.’
Gandhi had filed his nomination on 4 December.
Congress Presidents Over the Years
Before Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia held the party's top post for 19 years. After his formal elevation, Rahul will be the sixth member and fifth generation leader of the Nehru-Gandhi clan to occupy the post.
The other members from his family who held the same include Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi.
Some eminent leaders who held the post in the pre-independence era included Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Abul Kalam Azad, Vallabhai Patel, and Rajendra Prasad.
Eminent people like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, Annie Besant and Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, the first party president, also led the party in the pre-Independence era.