Rahul Gandhi will formally take over as chief of the Congress party on Saturday, from his mother Sonia Gandhi who had helmed the country’s oldest political party for 19 years. The entire process will be completed after the Central Election Authority president Mullapally Ramachandran hands over the Certificate of Election to the newly-elected president of the Congress. [caption id=“attachment_4225615” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Rahul Gandhi. Twitter @OfficeofRG[/caption] His mother Sonia Gandhi on Friday announced that it was time for her to retire, triggering immediate speculation about her future plans. The Congress party sought to quell it saying she has only retired from the party chief’s role and not from politics. She also added that Rahul Gandhi has been playing an active role in the last three years. The 47-year-old Rahul Gandhi formally takes over the reins of the grand old party two days before the counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, the outcome of which could be a trendsetter ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, current and former chief ministers, MPs, senior Congress leaders, and all PCC chiefs and delegates will be present at the handing over ceremony. Gandhi had been the party vice-president for over four years since 2013. Rahul’s main challenge remains the revamping of party organisation, apart from electoral battles in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president updates: Will fight politics of anger, says new party chief
Rahul Gandhi will formally take over as chief of the Congress party on Saturday, from his mother Sonia Gandhi who had helmed the country’s oldest political party for 19 years
 "Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president updates: Will fight politics of anger, says new party chief")
Congress workers celebrate in Kerala
Congress workers celebrate at party office in Kerala's Trivandrum #RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/LXXhhqSVde
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Glimpse of the historic moment, as Rahul ji takes charge as the President, from 24 Akbar Road! #CongressPresidentRahulGandhi #ThankYouSoniaGandhi ji for your selflessly service to the party & the nation, you will always be our guiding light!pic.twitter.com/X1DJkGuRde
— Bharat Solanki (@BharatSolankee) December 16, 2017
I am confident he will prove to be a good party President. He will face and help overcome the challenges the country is facing today: Ghulam Nabi Azad on #RahulGandhi taking over as Congress President pic.twitter.com/vVQPjxLVQe
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Celebrations in Bengaluru
Celebration outside Congress office in Bengaluru after #RahulGandhi took over as Party President. pic.twitter.com/D1Bk6nHJXN
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul takes over reins of the Congress Party today from Sonia
The process of his election as the new Congress chief was completed after the Central Election Authority president Mullapally Ramachandran handed over the Certificate of Election to Rahul Gandhi in a ceremony at the 24, Akbar Road housing the party headquarters.
The ceremony was marked by loud celebrations as scores of Rahul Gandhi supporters danced to upbeat tunes, raised slogans, burst crackers and distributed sweets outside the party office in New Delhi.
Read full story hereKerala opposition leader Chennithala says a new era begins
A new era of value based politics begins when #RahulGandhi ji takes charge as the President of AICC.#CongressPresidentRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/1pN5zENlxs
— Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) December 16, 2017
श्री राहुल गांधी ने कहा,’वो तौड़ते हैं, हम जोड़ते हैं.... मैं देश के युवाओं से कहूँगा...हम देश को प्यार से बढ़ाएँगे....साथ चलेंगे, बढ़ेंगे.... हम उनके लिए लड़ेंगे जो ख़ुद के लिए नहीं लड़ सकते.... हम हर नफ़रत को मोहब्बत से लड़ेंगे...ईस सेवा में हमें राजनीति के मायने बुनने हैं।’ pic.twitter.com/ulYywwGG82
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 16, 2017
‘The Congress is guided by a sense of community’
Congress is an ancient idea. BJP would have you believe they are oldest idea in the universe,as usual this is not the truth.In India,thr are 2 ideas that hv clashed, idea of self vs the other.BJP are soldiers fighting for self. Congress guided by service of community:Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/AI3jiCWiAs
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul Gandhi accepts position as new party chief, say he realises the kind of lineage he inhereits
It is with deepest humility, that I accept this position (of Congress President) knowing that I will always be walking in the shadow of giants: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/GCZJjBpl13
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
And if there is anyone who can stop what the BJP is doing, it is the 'pyara karyakarta & neta' of Congress. We are going to make Congress, grand old and young party. We will fight the politics of anger: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/CPA5sut5MT
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul chooses his words on BJP carefully
Rahul Gandhi way of attacking BJP while also saying good words resembles to Mark Antony’s speech in Julius Caeser during Caeser’s funeral. Rahul says, “We consider BJP as our brothers and sisters but we don’t believe in their politics and way of functioning.”
‘Woh aag lagate hain, Hum bujhate hain’
Now Rahul Gandhi decides to address in Hindi to attack BJP. He says,"Woh todte Hain, Hum jodte Hain; _Woh aag lagate hain, Hum bujhate hain (_They break, while we fix. They incite, we solve the issue). _Aap mere parivaar ho, Main aapko Mera pyar dena chahta hoon (_You’re my family, I want to give you my love."
Rahul attacks Narendra Modi
The prime minister is taking us back to a medieval past, Rahul Gandhi said.
Sonia Gandhi on Rahul
Rahul is my son, so I do not think for me to praise him is right but I would say that since childhood he had to bear the brunt of violence, after joining politics he had to face blatant personal attacks, that have made him a stronger person: Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/0B1XzHvp6g
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
‘Our party will never bow down’
Since 2014 we have been playing the role of opposition, the challenge that we face today, is the biggest one, our constitutional values are being attacked, our party has also lost many elections but our party will never bow down: Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/GFoxWcizp0
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul is my
Indira JI passed away, after which Rajiv Ji also passed away, my support was taken away from me and it took me a long while to come to terms with it: Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/6ulMpPzRrq
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Thousands cheer along Sonia’s final speech as Congress president
Thousands of Congress workers outside the AICC HQ watching Sonia Gandhi’s emotional address and raising slogans. They are hailing her by burning crackers and beating drums.
There is free distribution of laddoos, amarti and jalebi outside HQ to party workers and the large gathering.
Sonia Gandhi talks of the evolution of the party and her leadership over the decades
Indira Gandhi treated me like her own daughter & I learnt a lot about India from her: Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/vgDUuFu4DR
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Dr. Manmohan Singh says, ‘Rahulji has shown rare courage and wisdom in politics. We depend on you to overcome the politics of fear and sustain the politics of hope. ..........May your path be blessed’ pic.twitter.com/qnaiYsvSMk
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 16, 2017
Sonia Gandhi’s speech gets interrupted due to incessant bursting of firecracrackers
Due to heavy fireworks, Sonia Gandhi has to stop for a while from addressing. Despite announcements, the party workers are in no mood to listen and they are continuing with their bursting of high-decibel firecrackers outside the Congress HQ. Sonia is waiting patiently for the celebration to take a halt so that she can address.
Now that Sonia Ji is handing over reins of the party to Rahul ji we salute Sonia Ji for uniting the leadership, something that she has been doing since 19 years. Rahul Ji brings a new sense of dedication & commitment (as party president) :Manmohan Singh at AICC pic.twitter.com/zFW63ojOv0
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Today is a unique day in the history of the Congress party. Smt Sonia Gandhi has been the leader of the party for the last 19 years. During this period Smt Gandhi provided a powerful leadership: former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh#CongressPresidentRahulGandhi #ThankYouSoniaGandhi
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2017
Singh says the party has high hopes from Rahul
Manmohan Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi is taking over the leadership at a time when there are certain disturbing elements noticeable in politics today. Rahul ji, we depend upon you to transform politics of fear and sustain the politics of hope.”
Manmohan Singh congratulates Rahul Gandhi
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, speaking at the ceremony, congratulated Rahul Gandhi on his elevation and said, “Today is a unique day in the history of the Congress Party. You will forgive me if I do not become some emotional today.”
Supporters burst crackers as Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president
Celebration outside AICC in Delhi as Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress President. pic.twitter.com/OqvLFxjMUo
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president
#FLASH Rahul Gandhi takes charge as Congress President, handed over the certificate for taking over. pic.twitter.com/DQW9q76zEv
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
AICC meeting proceeds amid loud cheers
Amid high-decibel slogans of Rahul Gandhi Zindabad, Sonia Gandhi Zindabad, Humaara neta kaisa ho Rahul Gandhi jaisa ho and burning of crackers, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and newly elected Rahul Gandhi under heavy security cover have arrived the venue.
The large gathering at the venue bursts in excitement and gives a standing ovation with slogans.
Constant announcements are being made not to burn firecrackers but party workers are in no mood to listen to it. They are visibly upbeat and bubbling with enthusiasm.
Ceremony begins
Veteran and senior Congress leaders like Motilal Vohra, Madhusudhan Mistry and Ahmad Patel have taken seats on the dias. High security including NSG has taken control of the venue. Who’s who from Congress party like former Cabinet Ministers, chief ministers from Congress ruled states, CWC members, etc have occupied seats at the lawn.
Ceremony to elevate Rahul Gandhi as Congress president begins in New Delhi. Live feed:
LIVE: Official welcoming ceremony of #CongressPresidentRahulGandhi at AICC. #ThankYouSoniaGandhi https://t.co/WKHDxcfZ6r
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2017
Rahul, Sonia arrive for swearing-in ceremony
Rahul Gandhi & Sonia Gandhi arrive together at AICC HQ for Rahul Gandhi's swearing in as Congress President. pic.twitter.com/cYk9jYJlyF
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Rahul Gandhi leaves residence for the ceremony
Rahul Gandhi leaves from his residence for AICC HQ, will be taking charge as Congress President #Delhi pic.twitter.com/85OF4nXv5X
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Congress takes a ‘pledge for a new movement’
Today we take a pledge for a new movement:
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 16, 2017
Free from Fear,
Free from Fascism,
Free from Prejudices,
For Equity,
For True Democracy,
New Energy, Newer steps,
New Challenges & Navsarjan !
Under the leadership of Rahulji,
We shall write a golden chapter for Our Nation! 🇮🇳
As we officially welcome Congress President Rahul Gandhi into his role, we look back on his character-defining moments, and look forward to his continued compassionate, integrity-fuelled leadership. #CongressPresidentRahulGandhi #ThankYouSoniaGandhi pic.twitter.com/YylvZdwG1J
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2017
Priyanka Gandhi arrives with husband Robert Vadra for the ceremony
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & her husband Robert Vadra reach Congress HQ at Akbar Road ahead of Rahul Gandhi taking charge as party President. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/SKBGPBVKlY
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017
Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy tweets thanking Sonia Gandhi for her service
Thank You SoniaJi for your dedicated service to the party and the Nation. #ThankyouSoniaGandhi pic.twitter.com/HN1gZ0KCTi
— Oommen Chandy (@Oommen_Chandy) December 16, 2017
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