Rahul Gandhi Formally Quits As Party Chief, Makes Letter Public

Holds himself responsible for poll debacle; senior Cong. leaders go into a huddle

- Sandeep Phukan

Ending speculation about his continuance in office as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday formally resigned, holding himself responsible for the party’s Lok Sabha poll debacle. He also maintained that accountability would be critical for the party’s future growth.

Mr. Gandhi’s decision to make his resignation public sent senior Congress leaders into a huddle.

Sources told The Hindu that senior leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Motilal Vohra, A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, Anand Sharma and Mukul Wasnik, among others, are believed to have met informally to decide the next course of action, including options available in the party constitution to deal with such a situation.

Asks CWC to form group

In a four-page open letter, Mr. Gandhi said he had empowered the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to constitute a group of people that could find his successor and distanced himself from the process of selecting the next chief.

Amidst reports that Mr. Gandhi and his mother, Sonia, could be travelling out of the country shortly, sources said the CWC could meet as early as July 10 on a future course of action.