Rahul Gandhi says ready to take over as Congress president

His remarks came after the CWC made a strong and unanimous appeal to him to take over as party chief

Rahul Gandhi told leaders in Congress on Monday he was ready to take over as party chief from his mother Sonia Gandhi.

“I am ready to shoulder whatever responsibility the Congress president and the party will give me to fight for the idea of India,” Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala, quoted Rahul as having said at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body. 

“For him, the issue is to fight for the idea of India to ensure that decisive fight, including rights of media, is carried to a logical conclusion... any responsibility that helps him realise that objective, he is always willing to more than take on that mettle and fulfil that responsibility,” said Surjewala. 

Rahul’s remarks came after the CWC made a strong and unanimous appeal to him to take over as party chief while extending Sonia’s term by another year. She has held the top post since 1998. 

“This is the first time that the CWC made a strong and unanimous recommendation that Rahul should take over as party chief,” said Congress’s A K Antony. 

Deploying Antony to brief the media over the CWC deliberations was an indication enough that the Congress wanted the message on Rahul’s ascension to be conveyed with all seriousness. 

Sources said the change of guard could take place any time, with a strong possibility that it could happen before Sonia’s current term ends on December 31. 

Sonia did not attend the CWC meeting as she was not keeping well. A group of seniors will now convey the message to her. 

“It is for her to decide. We are confident that our sentiment will receive her care and consideration,” said Antony. 

The leadership issue has been kept hanging since the grand old party lost the 2014 national polls. “High time the Congress mobilised all forces to fight against the anti-people and dictatorial policy of Narendra Modi government and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sangh Parivar, and Bharatiya Janata Party’s policy of communal polarisation and destruction of peace and social harmony in the country,” he added. 

The party will seek a year’s extension from the Election Commission to hold its internal elections.