New Delhi :
Congress Lok Sabha MPs on Wednesday urged Rahul Gandhi to remain party president, even as he remained firm on his decision to quit the post following the party’s humiliating drubbing in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress MPs during a meeting chair by Sonia Gandhi reportedly appealed Rahul to continue as party chief, saying that there was no one else who can lead the party in the testing times. The Congress chief, however, told them that he will not change his decision and that the party should start exploring options.
According to news agency ANI citing sources, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari told Rahul Gandhi that the party takes collective responsibility of its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and he was not the only one to be blamed.
Several youth Congress members also demonstrated outside the Wayanad MP’s residence raising slogans "Rahul Ganhi zindabad!” to urge him to take back his decision to step down from the party president’s post.
Following Congress party’s poor show in the national elections and his own defeat from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi took hundred percent responsibility and offered his resignation. Party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress general secretary (UP East) Priyanka Gandhi and UP chairperson Sonia Gandhi tried to convince him not to quit.
The Gandhi scion, however, remained firm on his decision and told them someone from outside the Gandhi family should be named as the new chief. Rahul Gandhi replaced his mother Sonia Gandhi to become the 60th Congress president on December 16, 2017.
