Rahul Gandhi on Monday is expected to be elected as the president of the Congress party, succeeding his mother Sonia Gandhi. Monday was the last date of withdrawal of nomination in the party’s organisational elections.
File image of Rahul Gandhi. Reuters
He will however, officially take charge only on 16 December marking a generational shift in the grand old party when his mother and its longest-serving president Sonia Gandhi would formally hand over the baton to him.
He has become the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to take charge of the Grand Old Party of India.
Senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi will continue to play an effective role and guide the destiny of the party.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had cleared the decks for Rahul's elevation in a meeting chaired by Sonia and attended by top party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and party general secretaries.
The 47-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family will face monumental challenges as Congress president. As Debobrat Ghose wrote for Firstpost, "Rahul as Congress vice-president failed during the Assembly elections, be it allying with the Left in West Bengal or in Uttar Pradesh. Many times, Rahul has been accused of being an absentee politician. When he takes over, dealing with alliances will be a major challenge."
Another challenge would be overhauling the party cadre through internal restructuring, he wrote.
The Congress party will also have to mount a strident campaign for state elections in 2018 to begin gathering a momentum that can put it in a better position for the general elections in 2019 Hindustan Times reported.
Published Date: Dec 11, 2017 04:24 pm | Updated Date: Dec 11, 2017 04:47 pm
Highlights
A look back at previous heads of India's grand old party
Of the 15 people who led the 132-year-old Congress party post-Independence, four belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family. When Rahul Gandhi takes over as the president, he will be the fifth.
The Nehru-Gandhi clan was at the helm of affairs of the party after independence for 38 years: Nehru for three years, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for eight years each, and Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years.
Long before Independence, his great-great grandfather, Motilal, headed the party, the first from the family to do so.
As Congress president, Rahul Gandhi's challenge will be to win Hindu hearts without becoming poor Hindutva copy
The principal tasks before Rahul Gandhi as Congress president will be to evolve strategies for countering Hindu nationalism without alienating the Hindus and ensuring Other Backward Classes (OBC) politics doesn't stump the party. These two tasks dwarf the challenges most media commentators have identified for Rahul — those of forging alliances with regional players and building the party organisation.
Read Ajaz Ashraf's opinion piece here
Congress leaders have confidence in Rahul's leadership
While former prime minister Manmohan Singh described Rahul Gandhi as the "darling of the Congress", Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said he would make a "good future prime minister".
Even as party workers celebrate, monumental challenges lie ahead
Rahul is expected to face a tough challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who are known for their connection to the grass roots and drawing up electoral strategies with surgical precision.
On the other hand, Rahul as Congress vice-president failed during the Assembly elections, be it allying with the Left in West Bengal or in Uttar Pradesh. Many times, Rahul has been accused of being an absentee politician. Dealing with alliances will be a major challenge.
Read the entire opinion piece here
Congress officially announces Rahul Gandhi as party president
Rahul is a stickler for rules: Mullapally Ramachandran
Ramachandran said that Rahul is a stickler for rules and both he and Sonia Gandhi completely stayed away from the process and allowed the election authority to function autonomously.
Congress to have a formal event on 16 December at party headquarters in Delhi
'Received 89 nomination papers for one candidate'
Congress’ Central Election Authority chairman Mullapally Ramachandran said that they received 89 nomination papers for one candidate. Since Rahul was unopposed, Ramachandran declared Rahul as the new president of the Congress party.
Congress workers celebrate Rahul's elevation
Congress workers are celebrating the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president at the party headquarters in Delhi, reported News18.
Rahul to officially take charge on 16 December
Rahul Gandhi will officially take charge of the Congress party on 16 December when his mother and longest-serving president Sonia Gandhi resigns.
Rahul Gandhi likely to be named party chief today
Rahul Gandhi could be declared the Congress party president on Monday, which also happens to be the last date of withdrawal of nomination in the party’s organisational elections.
16:47 (IST)
Since Independence, Gandhi family has held the reins of the Congress party for 36 years
16:36 (IST)
A look back at previous heads of India's grand old party
Of the 15 people who led the 132-year-old Congress party post-Independence, four belonged to the Gandhi-Nehru family. When Rahul Gandhi takes over as the president, he will be the fifth.
The Nehru-Gandhi clan was at the helm of affairs of the party after independence for 38 years: Nehru for three years, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for eight years each, and Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years.
Long before Independence, his great-great grandfather, Motilal, headed the party, the first from the family to do so.
16:33 (IST)
Sonia Gandhi to continue to play an effective role in Congress: M Veerappa Moily
The outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi will continue to play an effective role and guide the destiny of the party, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily had said.
"She will continue to play an effective role even though she is not (Congress) president."
16:23 (IST)
Congress national spokesperson calls the announcement a 'joyous' moment
16:21 (IST)
Tarun Gogoi responds to formal announcement of Rahul's elevation
16:16 (IST)
As Congress president, Rahul Gandhi's challenge will be to win Hindu hearts without becoming poor Hindutva copy
The principal tasks before Rahul Gandhi as Congress president will be to evolve strategies for countering Hindu nationalism without alienating the Hindus and ensuring Other Backward Classes (OBC) politics doesn't stump the party. These two tasks dwarf the challenges most media commentators have identified for Rahul — those of forging alliances with regional players and building the party organisation.
Read Ajaz Ashraf's opinion piece here
16:14 (IST)
Mumbai Congress workers celebrate at office
16:05 (IST)
In Pictures: Celebrations at Congress office in Dehradun
16:04 (IST)
Congress leaders have confidence in Rahul's leadership
While former prime minister Manmohan Singh described Rahul Gandhi as the "darling of the Congress", Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said he would make a "good future prime minister".
15:57 (IST)
A lot of expectations from Rahul Gandhi: Ghulam Nabi Azad
15:53 (IST)
Even as party workers celebrate, monumental challenges lie ahead
Rahul is expected to face a tough challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who are known for their connection to the grass roots and drawing up electoral strategies with surgical precision.
On the other hand, Rahul as Congress vice-president failed during the Assembly elections, be it allying with the Left in West Bengal or in Uttar Pradesh. Many times, Rahul has been accused of being an absentee politician. Dealing with alliances will be a major challenge.
Read the entire opinion piece here
15:48 (IST)
Congress officially announces Rahul Gandhi as party president
15:47 (IST)
In Pictures: Celebrations outside Congress office in Delhi
15:42 (IST)
Rahul is a stickler for rules: Mullapally Ramachandran
Ramachandran said that Rahul is a stickler for rules and both he and Sonia Gandhi completely stayed away from the process and allowed the election authority to function autonomously.
15:39 (IST)
Congress to have a formal event on 16 December at party headquarters in Delhi
15:38 (IST)
'Received 89 nomination papers for one candidate'
Congress’ Central Election Authority chairman Mullapally Ramachandran said that they received 89 nomination papers for one candidate. Since Rahul was unopposed, Ramachandran declared Rahul as the new president of the Congress party.
15:34 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi elected Congress president unopposed
15:30 (IST)
'A new day and a new beginning for Rahul Gandhi': Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi
"This is a new day and a new beginning for Rahul Gandhi. He will take us away from the fractured path of Narendra Modi and BJP. Today starts another era for the Congress Party," News18 quoted Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi as saying.
15:27 (IST)
A look at Rahul Gandhi's political career
15:24 (IST)
Rahul filed his nomination on 4 December
Rahul had filed his nomination papers for the Congress president on 4 December. Party leaders, both young and old, were jubilant and said his ascent to the top will help Congress regain the lost glory after a string of electoral reverses.
15:15 (IST)
Congress workers celebrate Rahul's elevation
Congress workers are celebrating the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president at the party headquarters in Delhi, reported News18.
15:12 (IST)
Rahul to officially take charge on 16 December
Rahul Gandhi will officially take charge of the Congress party on 16 December when his mother and longest-serving president Sonia Gandhi resigns.
14:51 (IST)
Rahul Gandhi likely to be named party chief today
Rahul Gandhi could be declared the Congress party president on Monday, which also happens to be the last date of withdrawal of nomination in the party’s organisational elections.