Antony and chief party spokesman Randeep Surjewala evaded questions as to when exactly Rahul would take over the reins of the party.
New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi’s appointment as Congress president on Monday appeared imminent with members of the Congress Working Committee, its highest decision making body, unanimously voicing “strong sentiment” for his elevation for the first time at a meeting which Sonia Gandhi gave a miss.
It was party veteran A.K. Antony who set the ball rolling at the meeting, which lasted for four hours, when he spoke about the need for Mr Rahul to take over the mantle of the 130-year-old party from her mother and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. All other members, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh followed suit.
“Members unanimously expressed their strong sentiment that accepting the wishes of crores of Congress workers and well wishers, Rahul Gandhi take over as the president of the Congress party,” Antony told reporters while briefing on the deliberations.
Antony said all members including Manmohan Singh, insisted it was “high time” Rahul took over as party chief and the Congress mobilised “all forces” to take on “anti-people and dictatorial” policies of the Modi government.
Mr Rahul, who presided over the meeting as Sonia Gandhi was reportedly indisposed, said he was ready to accept whatever responsibility is bestowed upon him by the Congress president and the CWC, in “fighting for the idea of India.” At the briefing, both Mr Antony and chief party spokesman Randeep Surjewala evaded questions as to when exactly Rahul would take over the reins of the party from his mother and whether it would happen on November 19, the day the AICC has organised a grand celebration on the birth centenary of Indira Gandhi.
Later, Mr Gandhi made a attack on the Modi government, saying democracy is going through “one of its darkest hours” with the ruling dispensation “obsessed with power and seeking to silence” all those who disagree. He charged BJP with “hiding behind the cloak of national security, while civil society is being intimidated for asking questions”. “TV channels are being punished and asked to shut down and the opposition is being arrested for holding the government to account,” he said.
