Rahul Gandhi firm on resigning; Gehlot may be new Congress chief: Report

Different party leaders have tried to convince Rahul Gandhi to carry on as president but he is firm on resigning; Gehlot has been asked to be prepared to take up the role, says a report

Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot may be appointed party president, said a report in the Navbharart Times. The Hindi daily says that the grand old party may be forced to do this after the current President, Rahul Gandhi remained adamant on resigning after the party's poor showing in general elections. Gehlot has been asked to be prepared to take up the role, the report said. 

This comes in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's refusal to withdraw his resignation from the post of Congress party chief. Various party leaders have exhorted him to continue as party president but he has been firm on resigning, the report said. If Ashok Gehlot becomes the new party chief, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot may become the CM of the state, it added.

Ashok Gehlot met the Congress President on his birthday yesterday at the party headquarter and urged him to remain the party chief in the interests of his country and people. Mr Gehlot said, "Rahul Gandhi took the fight against the Narendra Modi government for the last five years on issues of uenmployment and youths."

Gehlot had earlier been the general secretary in-charge of the organisation for the party before he became the Rajasthan chief minister.