After running the ship for 19 years, Sonia Gandhi today stepped down from her position as the Congress president in a bittersweet farewell. Taking the wheel from her was son Rahul Gandhi, who is now the 49th president of the 132-year-old Indian National Congress.

It was a big moment for the party, which is not having the best of times politically with only eight out of 29 states under its reign. And it was a big moment for Rahul too, who now has some big shoes to fill.

However, in the middle of the very serious political event, a beautiful mother-son moment was captured.

As cameras rolled and clicked away at his swearing-in, an emotional Rahul Gandhi was seen kissing his mother on the forehead on the stage; a photo that will leave a mark.

#officeofRG . Congress President Rahul Gandhi with Sonia Gandhi as he take over as President of Congress party. Photo Sandeep Saxena pic.twitter.com/kLppgxCW2Z
- Sandeep Saxena (@sandeep662003) December 16, 2017

The Congress party's central election authority M Ramachandran handed over to Rahul Gandhi the election certificate at swearing-in today. Also present at the event was former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, who gave a congratulatory speech later.

Sonia Gandhi was made the party president in 1998. New President Rahul Gandhi is the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead the Congress party.

Emotional Rahul Gandhi kisses mother Sonia on the forehead at swearing-in

Cameras caught a beautiful mother-son moment as an emotional Rahul Gandhi kissed his mother on the forehead during his swearing-in as the new Congress president.