Rahul Gandhi resigns LIVE updates: Amarinder Singh says Congress will get through 'difficult time' with help of Rahul's vision

Rahul did his best, says HD Deve Gowda

JD(S) President former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said Rahul Gandhi did his best to ensure the party’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls 2019. “Rahul Gandhi toured entire country and struggled to strengthen the organisation. He has done his best and has taken moral responsibility. I requested (him to not resign) but he has taken a moral stand for the defeat. But he is not going to retire, he is going to work for party,” Deve Gowda said.

Rahul struggled to strengthen Congress, did his best: Deve Gowda 

Speaking to ANI, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda said, “Rahul Gandhi toured entire country, and struggled to strengthen the organisation. He has done his best. He has taken moral responsibility. I requested but he has taken a moral stand for defeat (in elections), but he’s not going to retire; he’s going to work for the party.”

Party workers, supporters have been opposing Rahul Gandhi’s resignation

A local Congress worker Hanif Khan Tuesday created a flutter outside the party headquarters on Akbar Road in Delhi when he tried to climb a tree to attempt suicide. He, however, was stopped by Congress leaders and workers present there.

Some Congress workers also sat on a dharna to show support to Gandhi. Party leaders, including AICC Secretaries Mahender Joshi, Naseeb Singh and other leaders including Delhi working president Rajesh Lilothia, Shobha Oza, Jagdish Tytler along with party activists sat on a ‘dharna’ on Tuesday, seeking that Gandhi continues as party chief.

PTI

Congress leaders urge Rahul Gandhi to rescind resignation

Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, “It is a great loss if Rahul Gandhi decides to step down. Without the Gandhi family, Congress will break. I am of the firm opinion that Gandhi family unites Congress. And Congress unites India.”

Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot said, “Our party and the members are constantly working towards the betterment and I completely believe that Rahul Gandhi, who has tweeted his resignation today, needs to come back, because he has worked extremely hard, he has won and lost several times. Further work that needs to be done, should be under his guidance and not just Rajasthan, but the entire country wants him to take back his resignation and work towards the betterment of the country and its citizens.”

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi should have continued to lead the party with the same dynamism and fighting spirit with which he had steered the election campaign. It is a difficult time for the party, but together, we will get through it, to come out stronger and bigger, with Rahul’s vision continuing to guide us.”

Congress leader Jitin Prasada said, “Whatever he (Rahul Gandhi) has written in the letter, and party’s shortcomings, everything must be deliberated upon, keeping the future in mind. And we appeal to him that he should rethink his decision.

BJP leaders respond to Rahul Gandhi’s resignation

BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, “I respect the decision taken by Rahul Gandhi as party president. But the logic he is giving for his resignation is wrong and factually incorrect. His party lost after people of this country has given massive mandate for Mr Modi and they were not ready to accept the dynastic and corrupt politics of Congress.“​

Gorakhpur BJP MP Ravi Kishan said, “It is a wise decision and maybe he wants to introspect the reasons behind the defeat of Congress party. It is his own decision and everyone is free to decide what is best suited for him.

Party heavyweights lost in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress bastions wrested​

Rahul Gandhi’s resignation also came after BJP not only defeated Congress all over the country, with the former getting 303 seats and the latter just 52 seats, but also wrested from the grand old party some of its crucial seats and bastions. Nine former Chief Ministers lost in the polls, including Shiela Dikshit, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Digvijaya Singh, Veerappa Moily, Sushilkumar Shinde, Harish Rawat, Ashok Chavan and Nabam Tuki.

A heavyweight like Sunil Jakhar was defeated by debutant candidate fielded by BJP Sunny Deol. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi was defeated in party bastion Amethi by Smriti Irani, while Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav was defeated in Jodhpur and Milind Deora lost in Mumbai South. Jyotiraditya Scindia lost in the Guna seat in Madhya Pradesh, which had seen the Congress in power since 1999.

Senior and revered leaders like Salman Khurshid, Ajay Maken, Raj Babbar and Shatrughan Sinha too lost in their respective constituencies. In his letter today, Rahul claimed responsibility for the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha election 2019.

 Reports of Motilal Vora as interim Congress president are incorrect, party sources tells ANI

Delhi Congress leader responds to Rahul Gandhi’s resignation

With Rahul taking to Twitter to officially step down from his post, all eyes are now on the few names appearing as front-runners to take his place. Some contenders for the position of the party chief include Motilal Vora, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The process of choosing the next Congress president:

• 10 delegates will choose names of potential presidential candidates.
• 7 days window will be given to raise objections.
• The candidate securing 50 percent or more votes will be declared the winner.
• If only one candidate is in the fray, he/she will be declared the chief.
• Winner will take charge as chief from next AICC plenary session.

Rahul Gandhi had tendered his resignation on 25 May

Just two days after Congress registered victory in only 52 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi had tendered his resignation from the party chief’s post at a Congress Working Committee meeting held on 25 May. The BJP registered a thumping victory in 303 seats.

Rahul Gandhi does not cease to be our leader, says Salman Khurshid

“He left the office of party president, but he doesn’t cease to be our leader. Sonia Gandhi isn’t president anymore but she remains our leader. By way of natural standing, they’ll continue to have the admiration, affection and confidence of party workers,” Salman Khurshid said following Rahul Gandhi’s resignation.

BJP’s organisational structure is in place, says Prakash Javadekar

Unlike the Congress, the organisational structure is already in place in the BJP, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said Wednesday soon after Rahul Gandhi formally resigned as Congress president.

“In BJP, the (organisational) election and membership timetable is ready. Work has also started. We also have a working president. If nothing is happening in the other party, what can I do,” Prakash Javadekar said after a briefing of the Cabinet when asked about Gandhi’s resignation.

When asked to comment on the resignation, another Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar quipped, “We can thank the other party.”

PTI

Punjab Pradesh Congress Sevadal thanks Rahul Gandhi for his “fearless” leadership

Five Congress chief ministers had earlier urged Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his resignation

Chief ministers from five Congress-ruled states went to New Delhi on Monday where they spent two hours trying to convince Gandhi to reverse his 25 May decision to resign. “We told him our point of view, openly, in a long conversation,” Ashok Gehlot, a senior Congress leader and chief minister of Rajasthan, told reporters.

India must reunite to resuscitate our institutions, says Rahul Gandhi

“The stated objectives of the RSS, the capture of our country’s institutional structure, is now complete. Our democracy has been fundamentally weakened. There is a real danger that from now on, elections will go from being a determinant of India’s future to a mere ritual.”

“This capture of power will result in unimaginable levels of violence and pain for India. Farmers, unemployed youngsters, women, tribals, Dalits and minorities are going to suffer the most. The impact on our economy and nation’s reputation will be devastating. The Prime Minister’s win does not negate the breadth of corruption allegations against him; no amount of money and propaganda can ever hide the light of the truth.”

“The Indian nation must unite to reclaim and resuscitate our institutions. The instrument of this resuscitation will be the Congress party.”

“To achieve this important task, the Congress Party must radically transform itself. Today the BJP is systematically crushing the voice of the Indian people. It is the duty of the Congress Party to defend these voices. India has never and will never be one voice. It is and always will be a symphony of voices. That is the true essence of Bharat Mata.”

Personally fought the Prime Minister, the RSS and the institutions they have captured, writes Rahul Gandhi

“We fought a strong and dignified election. Our campaign was one of brotherhood, tolerance and respect for all of India’s people, religions and communities. I personally fought the Prime Minister, the RSS and the institutions they have captured with all my being. I fought because I love India. And I fought to defend the ideals India was built upon. At times, I stood completely alone and am extremely proud of it. I have learned so much from the spirit and dedication of our workers and party members, men and women who have taught me about love and decency,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in the letter he shared today announcing his resignation.

“A free and fair election requires the neutrality of a country’s institutions; an election cannot be fair without arbiters — a free press, an independent judiciary, and a transparent election commission that is objective and neutral. Nor can an election be free if one party has a complete monopoly on financial resources,” he wrote.

“We didn’t fight a political party in the 2019 election. Rather, we fought the entire machinery of the Indian state, every institution of which was marshalled against the opposition. It is now crystal clear that our once cherished institutional neutrality no longer exists in India,” the letter further read.

BJP reacts to Rahul Gandhi’s resignation

Nalin Kohli told ANI, “It is up to him whether he continues or resigns.There are two types of parties – one like the BJP which is run by democracy. On the other hand, you have family driven parties like the Congress. So it is for them to decide, we have no role.”

“Ajeeb dastan hai yeh, kaha shuru kaha khatam. This is for the party to decide. BJP has nothing to do with this political drama,” said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The Nehru-Gandhi family has helmed the Congress for almost four decades since independence

He will work towards building the party, says Farooq Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Rahul Gandhi’s resignation: “I congratulate him for standing by his decision. He’s young, he can become the president in future. He had always wanted someone else in that position and I can’t say that defeat did this. I think he’ll now work towards building the party.”

How will the Congress choose Rahul Gandhi’s successor?

Congress sources said, “If the senior most general secretary is to be selected for the post of in-charge president, chances are that there are three at the top — Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Mukul Wasnik – and the contest will be between these three.”

Meanwhile, sources have told CNN-News18 that the contest may be between Mallikarjun Kharge, Prithviraj Chavan and Sushil Shinde.

Rahul Gandhi removes Congress president from his Twitter description

Rahul has urged that the next president be elected from outside hte Gandhi family: Source

A Congress source who accompanied Kamal Nath, Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot to Rahul Gandhi’s residence on Tuesday to urge him to continue as the party chief, told Firstpost, “Rahul is honest and transparent. There’s no drama in this. If he wanted to remain as president, who can ask him to step down. In fact everyone wants him to remain and lead Congress," the source said. 

The source said that the situation remains a stalemate. “By this weekend, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul are going abroad to pay a visit to Robert Vadra, who’s undergoing some treatment. They will be back by mid-July. After that, the date for CWC meeting will be decided,” the source said.

The source also confirmed that Rahul has asked the party to select someone from outside the family as president. A senior Congress leader and former MP said, “As per convention and INC constitution, the senior most general secretary should take charge as new president in-charge, until CWC appoints an interim president. Next step is the election for the president’s post.

‘Instinctively resist” BJP’s idea of India, says Rahul Gandhi

The Congress faced defeat at the hands of the BJP in the Lok Sabha election held in April and May this year. In his letter, Gandhi criticised BJP’s idea of India. “My fight has never been a simple battle for political power. I have no hatred or anger towards the BJP but every living cell in my body instinctively resists their idea of India. This resistance arises because my being is permeated with an Indian idea that is and has always been in direct conflict with theirs. This is not a new battle; it has been waged on our soil for thousands of years. Where they see differences, I see similarity. Where they see hatred, I see love. What they fear, I embrace,” he said.

“This compassionate idea permeates the hearts of millions and millions of my beloved fellow citizens. It is this idea of India that we will now vehemently defend,” he further wrote.

Motilal Vora likely to be interim Congress chief, reports CNN-News18

On 13 March, 1985, Vora was appointed Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He resigned from the post of Chief Minister on 13 February, 1988.

He has also held the post of the party treasurer in the past.

Not correct for me to select new Congress chief, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his belief that the Congress working Committee should choose the new party chief. “While it is important for someone new to lead our party, it would not be correct for me to select that person. Ours is a party with a profound history and heritage, one of struggle and dignity that I deeply respect. It is woven into the fabric of India and I trust the party will make the best decision regarding who can lead us with courage, love and fidelity,” he wrote.

“Immediately after resigning, I suggested to my colleagues in the Congress Working Committee that the way forward would be to entrust a group of people with the task of beginning the search for a new President. I have empowered them to do so and committed my full support to this process and a smooth transition,” he further said.

Rahul Gandhi says that he, apart from others should be held accountable for “2019 loss”

In a four-page letter shared on Twitter, Gandhi wrote, “As President of the Congress Party, I am responsible for the loss of the 2019 election. Accountability is critical for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress President. Rebuilding the party requires hard decisions and numerous people will have to be made accountable for the failure of 2019. It would be unjust to hold others accountable but ignore my own responsibility as President of the party.”

Rahul Gandhi takes responsibility for Lok Sabha election 2019 loss