Rahul Gandhi files his nomination to take over as Congress President from mother Sonia Gandhi
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination to take over as the next Congress President at the party headquarters in Delhi today. Top leaders of the Congress party were present as over 90 sets of nomination papers were filed to support Rahul Gandhi's candidature. Once elected, he will take over as Congress President from his mother and current party chief Sonia Gandhi. Six Chief Ministers -- Punjab's Amarinder Singh, Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh's Virbhadra Singh, Puducherry's V. Narayanasamy, Meghalaya's Mukul Sangma and Mizoram's Lal Thanhawla -- were present when over 90 sets of nomination papers were filed by various leaders to extend support to Rahul Gandhi's candidature. Congress state unit chiefs, senior leaders and Pradesh Congress Committee delegates were present at the party's central office to express support to Rahul Gandhi ahead of his much-awaited elevation. Rahul Gandhi reached the party headquarters around 10:45 am to file his nomination. He then signed sets of nomination papers before the Returning Officer. Apart from leaders of states and union territories, senior leaders on the Congress Working Committee or CWC, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad submitted different sets of nomination papers. With Rahul Gandhi in all likelihood to be the only candidate in the fray, he could be declared the next Congress chief tomorrow after scrutiny of nominations. He will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest serving Congress chief who has steered the party since 1998. Rahul Gandhi became the Congress Vice President in January 2013.
Here are the highlights from Rahul Gandhi's nomination to take over as Congress President:
Robert Vadra took facebook to congratulate Rahul Gandhi:
DMK Working President MK Stalin tweeted a video message for Rahul Gandhi:
Lok Sabha member, Shashi Tharoor conveyed his best wishes to Rahul Gandhi:
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma congratulated Rahul Gandhi by tweeting a video:
Rahul A Darling Of Congress Men And Women, Says Manmohan SinghRahul Gandhi called on former prime minister Manmohan Singh as well as former president Pranab Mukherjee this morning before going to the Congress headquarters to file his nomination papers and start the process of his election for party president.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Mr Gandhi by tweeting: "As @OfficeOfRG files his nomination to take over the Grand Old Party of India I wish him all the very best going ahead. Expectations are high, challenges are numerous & I pray for his success."
Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly congratulated Rahul Gandhi. He tweeted:
Congress leader and former actor Raj Babbar also congratulated Rahul Gandhi for filing his nomination to take charge as Congress President:
"Today is the beginning of a new era of leadership for India," said Congress leader Ajay Maken. He went on to call Rahul Gandhi and his leadership "Pragmatic, progressive and compassionate."
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot sent his best wishes to Rahul Gandhi viz a video message:
Former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit congratulated Rahul Gandhi and said "It is a touching moment for me to be witnessing this important chapter in the rich and proud history of the Congress"
Rahul Gandhi met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former President of India Pranab Mukherjee to take their blessings before filing for his nomination to take over the Congress Party as its chief.
Photos from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination today to take over as the next Congress chief.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wishes Rahul Gandhi after he filed his nomination to take charge as Congress President
Gujarat Congress Committee chief Bharat Solanki also wished Rahul Gandhi after his nomination. Rahul Gandhi has been campaigning aggressively in Gujarat - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state - as it is scheduled to vote on December 9 and 14 to decide the next government in the state.
Top Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also sent his wishes to Rahul Gandhi. In a video message, Mr Azad also highlighted why he feels Rahul Gandhi is "the perfect fit for Congress President."
"Have no doubt that we will make tremendous strides under your unifying and progressive leadership," senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said. Mr Scindia also said he is "looking forward to undertaking this journey of building an India of energy, opportunity and unity" with Rahul Gandhi
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram wished Rahul Gandhi the very best as he filed his nomination to take over as Congress President
Top Congress leaders sent their good wishes and congratulatory messages to Rahul Gandhi soon after he filed his nomination to succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi as the next Congress chief.
(File Photo - Rahul Gandhi) Rahul Gandhi signs documents to start the process of his nomination as Congress President. Over 90 sets of nomination papers were filed by various leaders to extend support to Rahul Gandhi's candidature. Rahul Gandhi, who became Congress Vice President in January 2013, could be officially declared as Congress President as early as tomorrow.
Rahul Gandhi greets former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit with a hug at the Congress headquarters ahead of his nomination for the post of Congress President.
Around 100 nominations will be filed for Rahul Gandhi to be declared the next Congress chief. Sonia Gandhi was one of the first to file a nomination for her son to take over the reigns of the party from her.
Top leaders of the Congress were present at the party headquarters this morning for the nomination of Rahul Gandhi to succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress President. Mrs Gandhi, the longest serving Congress chief who has steered the party since 1998. Rahul Gandhi, who stands for the post unopposed currently, could be declared the next Congress chief on tomorrow after scrutiny of nominations.
Shortly after arriving at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi to file his nomination to take over as party president, Rahul Gandhi welcomed former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior party leaders.
Apart from leaders of states and union territories, senior leaders on the Congress Working Committee or CWC, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad submitted different sets of nomination papers. With Rahul Gandhi in all likelihood to be the only candidate in the fray, he could be declared the next Congress chief on tomorrow after scrutiny of nominations. He will succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi, the longest serving Congress chief who has steered the party since 1998. Rahul Gandhi became the Congress Vice President in January 2013.
Congress state unit chiefs, senior leaders and Pradesh Congress Committee delegates were present at the party's central office to express support to Rahul Gandhi ahead of his much-awaited elevation. Rahul Gandhi reached the party headquarters around 10:45 am to file his nomination. He then signed sets of nomination papers before the Returning Officer.
Six Chief Ministers -- Punjab's Amarinder Singh, Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh's Virbhadra Singh, Puducherry's V. Narayanasamy, Meghalaya's Mukul Sangma and Mizoram's Lal Thanhawla -- were present when over 90 sets of nomination papers were filed by various leaders to extend support to Rahul Gandhi's candidature.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination to take over as the next Congress President at the party headquarters in Delhi today. Top leaders of the Congress party were present as over 90 sets of nomination papers were filed to support Rahul Gandhi's candidature. Once elected, he will take over as Congress President from his mother and current party chief Sonia Gandhi.