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
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Congress workers celebrate in Kerala
Celebrations in Bengaluru
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.
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‘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."
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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
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.
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
Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president
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:
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