Maharashtra Congress passes proposal to make Rahul Gandhi party chief

The Congress has been run by Rahul Gandhi's mother, Sonia Gandhi, for nearly two decades.

 

Kamlesh Damodar Sutar  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Mumbai/New Delhi, October 11, 2017 | UPDATED 21:31 IST

Highlights

  • 1
    Rahul Gandhi has been Vice-President since 2013
  • 2
    His mother, Sonia Gandhi, is the longest-serving president in Congress history
  • 3
    General sentiment in party that Rahul should take over: Sachin Pilot

The Working Committee of the Maharashtra Congress has unanimously passed a proposal to make Rahul Gandhi the national president of the Indian National Congress, which has been led by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, for nearly two decades. The proposal was made today by state party chief Ashok Chavan and Sanjay Nirupam.

Sonia Gandhi took over over from Sitaram Kesari in 1998, and is the longest-serving Congress president in the party's 131-year history.

Rahul Gandhi has been Vice-President since 2013.

A report published on Monday said it was likely Rahul's elevation to the top post would be announced by the end of the month.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot recently told the news agency PTI that "there is a general sentiment" in the party that Rahul should take over.

And senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar was quoted by ANI as saying "only two people can be Congress president, mother or son."

"To contest (an) election, people are required. If there is no one and there is only one candidate, how will you conduct election in the first place?" he asked.

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