Rahul Gandhi Files Nomination For Congress President, Is Sole Nominee: Highlights
With Rahul Gandhi in all likelihood to be the only candidate in the fray, he could be declared the next Congress President 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.
Rahul Gandhi files his nomination to take over as Congress President from mother Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi: 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:
Lok Sabha member, Shashi Tharoor conveyed his best wishes to Rahul Gandhi:
Dec 04, 2017 13:37 (IST)
Dec 04, 2017 13:29 (IST)
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma congratulated Rahul Gandhi by tweeting a video:
Dec 04, 2017 13:21 (IST)
Dec 04, 2017 13:13 (IST)
Rahul A Darling Of Congress Men And Women, Says Manmohan Singh Rahul 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.
Dec 04, 2017 12:46 (IST)
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."
Dec 04, 2017 12:40 (IST)
Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly congratulated Rahul Gandhi. He tweeted:
Dec 04, 2017 12:36 (IST)
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."
Dec 04, 2017 12:13 (IST)
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"
Dec 04, 2017 12:07 (IST)
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.
Dec 04, 2017 12:01 (IST)
Photos from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination today to take over as the next Congress chief.