'Black day for BJP: Twitter reacts to Rahul Gandhi's resignation letter
In more trouble for the crisis-hit Congress, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday publicly announced his resignation as its president, taking responsibility for the Lok Sabha polls debacle, and called for "hard decisions" to rebuild the party and making people accountable for the "failure" of 2019.
In more trouble for the crisis-hit Congress, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday publicly announced his resignation as its president, taking responsibility for the Lok Sabha polls debacle, and called for "hard decisions" to rebuild the party and making people accountable for the "failure" of 2019.
In a four-page open letter, Gandhi also urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to entrust a group of people with the task of finding a new president as it would not be proper for him to do so. The 49-year-old leader --who has been adamant on his decision to quit as party president since May 25, two days after the results in which his party won 52 seats -- also stressed on the need for the Congress to "radically transform itself".
In a letter that was emotive in places and combative in others, he said he owed the country and his party a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, but maintained that at times he stood "completely alone" in his fight against the Prime Minister and the RSS."As President of the Congress Party, I am responsible for the loss of the 2019 election. Accountability is critical for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress President," he said, rejecting pleas by senior party leaders to continue as the chief of the grand old party.
"Rebuilding the party requires hard decisions and numerous people will have to be made accountable for the failure of 2019. It would be unjust to hold others accountable but ignore my own responsibility as President of the party," he said in the letter posted on the Twitter.
In his Twitter account, Gandhi's designation as "President" of Congress was also changed to "Member of Congress and Member of Parliament".Today's public announcement by Gandhi, putting an end to 'will he or will he not', is seen by many political commentators as yet another blow to the crisis-ridden Congress, which is caught in a phase of uncertainty over the issue of leadership.Rahul succeeded his mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress President in December 2017 and his major success at the helm of the 133 year old party was winning the three state elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in December last year.Congress sources said Gandhi continues to be party president till his resignation is accepted by the CWC and a new chief is appointed after due process. They also said a meeting of the CWC will be convened soon which will decide on future course of action.
Meanwhile, Twitter had a lot to say on Rahul Gandh's resignation. Here are some select tweets:With inputs from PTI
Uncertainty stares at the Congress with Rahul Gandhi quitting as president of the party which is struggling to get back on its feet following two successive Lok Sabha election defeats.With assembly elections to states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi approaching, many in the party feel the Congress has been thrust in a "blind spot" due to the leadership crisis.
Political commentators, however, say the step will augur well for the grand old party that needs to reinvent itself and present a clear vision before the public to again emerge as a credible alternative.
The Congress party's future would be chalked out at the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision making body of the party, which is likely to meet early next week.
The names of senior Congress leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ashok Gehlot and Motilal Vora were doing the rounds as possible candidates for the party president's post, but a decision would be made only after the meeting of the CWC.
"The Congress faces an existential crisis in the absence of clear leadership and such a situation does not bode well for the party which faces assembly elections in three states just a few months later," said a party leader.
Political commentator Sushila Ramaswamy, who teaches in Delhi University, said the Congress party should come out of the Gandhi family's shadow.
"To think that without the Gandhi family, the party cannot hold ground is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to go to the top and it seemed that the Congress was currently under monarchic rule. All this is bad and does not augur well for the oldest political party in the country," she said.
Director Sanjay Kumar of CSDS said it is not fair to think that the Congress will face a crisis if the party president is not from the Gandhi family.
"The party might get a new form with his resignation. He should continue to remain active in the party, which will help him emerge as a popular leader in future.
"It is hoped that the Congress accepts the new leader who might give new shape to the party's future," he said.
However, Ramaswamy said the entire Gandhi family should step aside and bring in new leadership "People get fed up of seeing the same faces in a democracy and alternatives need to be given just as in other evolved democracies in the world," she said.
She also lauded Rahul Gandhi for taking the initiative and allowing the party to reinvent itself.
"Nothing lasts forever, let it reinvent itself. It is not acceptable in a true democratic set up. The party will have to invent itself if it has to come up as an alternative.